The Communications Tax Reform Commission held its first meeting on October 3, 2012.  In addition to organizational matters, the group discussed its charge and was provided with an overview of Maryland’s communications tax structure.  According to the statute, the Commission is charged with the following:

The Commission is charged with evaluating the tax and fee system on the communications industry, and the feasibility and fiscal implications of modernizing it for State and local government. In its assessment, the Commission must consider all the sales and use tax; and taxes on State and local property, public service company franchises, corporate income, and local communications; and any other relevant communications taxes or fees.

Composed of 22 members, MACo has 4 representatives on the Commission and plans to hold two more meetings over the course of the next two months, November 7 and December 5.  At the November 7 meeting, local governments and industry representatives will present on cable franchise and public, eduction, and government (PEG) access fees.

Meeting materials can be found on the Commission’s website.