results from Oregon IRS case

[Doug Schuler]

Here is a note from Barry Forbes (via Steve Snow of Charlotte's Web)
about the Oregon IRS.  I'm not sure how this could possibly affect SCN.
(We'll have to ask our lawyers! :-)  )

-- doug

Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 15:42:00 -0500 (EST)
From: Steve Snow <shsnow at charweb.org>
To: afcn-members at lists.colorado.edu
Subject: Re: IRS & Community Networking (fwd)

Folks,

Here is a note from Barry Forbes regarding the Oregon IRS case. 
Apologies for cross-posting. Surely, there will be much more to be said 
about this...

steve snow

Barry Forbes wrote more or less: 
:: 
:: To all folks concerned about non-profit community networking:
:: 
:: I've just heard from Shava Nerad of Oregon Public Networking about their
:: problems with the IRS... And the results are not good. There's a press
:: conference this afternoon and an official press release is on its way. But
:: I'd like to give you a "head's up" on what's happened:
:: 
:: At 08:07 PM 2/10/99 -0800, Shava Nerad wrote:
:: >I wish I could say the news is good.  They decided against us, and we have
:: split
:: >the organization in two -- an Oregon state nonprofit (federally for-profit)
:: >for the access lines, and a 501(c)(3) for the "clearly charitable"
:: functions.  One
:: >thing we were told was that if we were doing education in Internet stuff,
:: and that
:: >that a benefit of being in the program was getting a group rate with a
:: commercial
:: >provider, we could do that.  So there's some very complicated
:: manipulations of
:: >who's getting service under what auspices and what corporate entity.  The
:: >state nonprofit is a subsidiary of the (c)(3).  It's terribly baroque.
:: 
:: I'd like to work with folks in developing a legislative strategy to fix to
:: this appalling problem. This is the YMCA/health club battle all over again!
:: Please let me know if an another organization is taking the lead in this --
:: or if you'd like to be included in discussions and actions.
:: 
:: Thanks!
:: 
:: -- Barry
:: 
:: ____________________________________________
:: Barry Forbes, Dir. of Community Programs
:: Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy
:: 818 18th St, NW, #505, Washington DC 20006
:: Voice: 202-887-0301  Fax: 202-887-0305
:: Web: http://www.civilrightsforum.org
:: 


-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Snow       | 119 E. Seventh St.  | http://www.charweb.org
Executive Director | Charlotte, NC 28202 | JOIN The Association FOR
Charlotte's Web    | [V] (704) 332-5778  | Community Networking:
shsnow at charweb.org | [F] (704) 332-4752  | http://www.afcn.net
 1996-97 National Information Infrastructure/GII Community Award Winner

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