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A mystery is brewing in Massachusetts over how state tax collectors learned the identities of residents who bought cigarettes over the Internet. Since early this year, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue has been busy firing off 3,264 letters to online shoppers, ordering them to submit a check for unpaid cigarette taxes, plus interest and penalties--or risk fines and imprisonment. Massachusetts levies $1.50 a pack in state excise taxes, not counting state sales taxes and local taxes. The 7-Eleven store on Hanover Street in Boston's North End sells a carton of Marlboros for $55.75 while online retailer DirtCheapCig.com sells Marlboros for between $27.19 and $31.19 plus shipping. What's a great deal for Massachusetts's smokers horrifies the state's tax collectors, who acknowledge that they've obtained the names and addresses of DirtCheap customers but refuse to divulge their source. The two possible culprits: DirtCheap and the United Parcel Service, which the company uses to ship cigarettes. A UPS spokeswoman confirmed that they have complied with legal requests that relate to DirtCheap customers but won't say whether they came from Massachusetts or another state. The implications are national. More than half of the $1.1 billion worth of tickets sold by Ticketmaster in the third quarter were bought online, reducing Ticketmaster's reliance on ticket outlets and telephone banks. As expected, the Internet has helped entertainment businesses and sports franchises fill seats that might otherwise go unsold. The technology enables potential ticket buyers to look at the actual location of their seat before purchasing. According to the NBA, online sales represent 70 % of all ticket sales outside the box office, definitely hurting the scalper business. With services like Ticket Forwarding, ticket holders, for a transaction fee of about $2, e-mail a digital version of their ticket to a recipient. In the handoff, Ticketmaster voids the bar code on the original ticket and issues a new one to the recipient, who then prints out the ticket and bar code from the computer. Bar code scanners at the ticket gate validate the ticket. Last month, the New York Giants were the first National Football League team to roll out Ticketmaster's TeamExchange service, an online auction that works similarly to Ticket Forwarding, except that recipients pay a percentage fee above the face value of the ticket. As of late last week, about 500 tickets had been resold for the team's first three home games.
FREE
Technology Seminar Series Keeping up with technology is critical to your business operations. But who has the time to investigate new software, hardware and e-business processes? Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 18 and attend the PA Technology Showcase . We have the tech savvy experts to present information in fast-paced 30 minute seminar sessions. You'll see product demonstrations, get key info on how to best utilize technology and gain valuable tips and advice. Product
Demo and Seminar Tracks: PROCUREMENT AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The following is a listing of recently published technology procurement or Federally funded opportunities with various governmental entities. We hope our readers take the opportunity to investigate these postings and increase their business : Federal Funding Opportunities Department
of Defense (DoD) The Air Armament Center 46th Test Wing Commander plans to contract for hardware and software or prototype systems to develop Eglin Range Complex facilities and infrastructure urgently required for testing and evaluation of C4I and Munitions systems. General areas of work on this contract will include design, development, test, modification, installation, training or transition support. Offerors must have capability in all areas to be eligible. Responses are due 30 days after the publication date of this notice, which was Nov. 4. More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AAC/FA9200%2D04%2DR%2D0073/listing.html The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is soliciting proposals for funding under the Computer Engineering Research Program . The objective of this program is to develop a team or consortium of universities to address embedded intelligent information systems through short-term intermittent student-level research. A total of approximately $2 million is expected to be available over fiscal years 2004-09 to fund a single award. Eligibility is unrestricted. Proposals are due Jan. 12, 2004. More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/PRDA%2D04%2D02%2DSNK/listing.html The Space
and Naval Warfare Systems Center—San Diego is soliciting innovative
basic and applied research and prototype development
proposals in human and information system interaction infrastructure .
It is anticipated that any award will be for 1-3 years and
for less than $3 million overall. All responsible sources capable
of satisfying the government's needs may submit proposals.
This solicitation will be open for one year from its publication
date, which was Nov. 5. More information is available at: http://www.eps.gov/spg/DON/SPAWAR/SPAWARSYSCEN_San_Diego/ Department
of Energy (DOE) Department
of Transportation (DOT) Source: SSTI
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