Coalition of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Calls on Senate Judiciary Committee to Advance the American Innovation and Choice Online Act and Open Apps Market Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C. — Internet Works, a coalition representing more than 30 diverse Middle Tech companies, today led a letter from small- and medium-sized businesses urging Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) to hold a hearing on and advance the bipartisan American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) and Open Apps Market Act (OAMA).  Other signers of the letter included Mozilla, Flickr, Yelp, Proton, Y Combinator, Travel Tech Association, The Responsible Online Commerce Coalition (ROCC), Little Tech Association (LTA).  As the leading voice for Middle Tech, Internet Works endorsed AICOA when it was introduced last month.

“Internet Works is proud to be leading the fight for more open and competitive markets online,” said Peter Chandler, Executive Director of Internet Works.  “Our members know firsthand that innovation thrives when businesses can compete on the merits, reach customers, and grow without dominant gatekeepers putting a thumb on the scale.  The Senate has an important opportunity to advance these bipartisan bills to ensure that American businesses have a fair shot to compete and succeed.”

AICOA would establish procompetitive rules for the largest online platforms and address conduct that unfairly advantages a platform’s own products or services.  The bill was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

OAMA would promote competition in the app ecosystem by expanding consumer choice and protecting the ability of developers to compete and reach their customers.  The bill was introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).

About Internet Works: 

Internet Works is a coalition of over 30 diverse technology platforms working together to right-size regulatory technology policy, to foster trust, and promote safety online so that the Internet remains a place of limitless possibility and innovation.  For more information, please visit www.TheInternet.Works.