Re: Broadband ISPs taxed for "generating light energy"

A Cisco ZX GBIC produces a max of 4.77 dBm (or less than 4mw). 4mw corresponds to 35 watt hours in one year.

.035 kwh per year costs 34.5 cents per year using the average US electricity cost in March 2006 of 9.86 cents/kwh. Since the energy flow could be bidirectional, one of the two parties receives a net benefit of up to 34.5 cents. If a broadband provider offers customers a free gift such as a hat, does this make them into a hat retailer for tax purposes? --Michael Dillon