Sarkozy Pitches Internet Tax

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed taxing internet access and cell phone use to compensate for a ban on advertising on state-owned television stations, reports Time magazine. A monthly tax of a single Euro would generate $290 million per year—a quarter of what would be lost from the ad ban Sarkozy is also seeking, but some officials fear public outrage over such a tax.

"Generally speaking, taxing the internet is considered a bad idea, and a potential brake to net use and development," said one consultant. "These days, there just aren't many people who could respond to higher Internet prices by saying, 'Forget it, I'll just do without the net.'" France currently enjoys one of the most inexpensive broadband markets in the developed world. (More Nicolas Sarkozy stories.)