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Leading
Telecom Providers Support Jobs for Kentucky Plan
April
2, 2004
Governor's Communications Office
Governor
Fletcher, Bipartisan Leaders Welcome the Support
of ALLTEL, BellSouth, Cincinnati Bell, and Insight
With
yet another strong showing of support for the Governor’s
bipartisan, bicameral tax proposal, ALLTEL, BellSouth, Cincinnati
Bell and Insight have signaled their support for the “JOBS
for Kentucky” plan. Specifically, each company has recognized
the importance of simplifying communications taxes so that they
are balanced and apply uniformly.
"Insight
has long advocated that Kentucky's tax system on communications
customers and providers is unlevel, unfair, and unconstitutional.
Kentucky's courts now agree. We applaud Governor Fletcher's plan
that will fix this problem, encourage investment by all communications
companies and, most importantly, encourage competition for the
benefit of all Kentucky's consumers," stated Michael S. Willner,
Chief Executive Officer for Insight Communications.
“This
plan fixes an outdated tax system and will make Kentucky more
competitive for the deployment of next-generation telecommunications,”
said Eddy Roberts, President of BellSouth Kentucky Operations.
“We
applaud the Governor for taking this positive step toward modernizing
Kentucky’s antiquated telecommunication’s tax structure.
This plan positions Kentucky as a leader for the New Economy,”
stated Greg Coker, Vice President of External Affairs for ALLTEL.
Governor
Fletcher’s “JOBS for Kentucky” plan establishes
a new broad-based communications excise tax on cable and –
for the first time satellite television providers – at 7.62
percent, replacing myriad state and local taxes. Also included
are all telephone services (wireless and land-based).
“This
plan means businesses will no longer be penalized for being based
here and that companies will not be rewarded for being based in
another state,” stated Governor Ernie Fletcher. “It
is essential that we simplify our communications taxes to make
them easier to collect, and changed to make sure that they are
applied uniformly.”
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Jason
Keller
Governor's
Communications Office
Office
(502) 564-2611
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