July 12, 2022
Dear Representatives Pallone, Schakowsky, McMorris Rodgers and Bilirakis,
As Congress debates new policies to regulate the internet, it’s essential that lawmakers understand the potential impact of those policies on small businesses. Bills like the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act and the Competition and Transparency in Digital Advertising Act (CTDA) might sound nice, but would cripple entrepreneurs and innovators competing with the largest companies in today’s economy, where data and information are crucial resources, and customers expect timely, tailored suggestions for goods and services.
That’s why Internet for Growth, a coalition of hundreds of small businesses and creators, is urging Congress to adopt a federal law to protect Americans’ data privacy, as well as jobs and growth on Main Street. We’re also relying on easy-to-use, integrated advertising services that laws to promote competition in the industry, however well-intentioned, would destroy.
Digital advertising and marketing are essential to e-commerce. The ad-supported internet plays an enormous role in our national economy, accounting for 12% of gross domestic product, translating to 17 million internet-dependent jobs, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Small businesses and individuals account for 38% of those jobs, more than the largest companies. In recent years, the internet economy has grown seven times faster than the U.S. economy. Digital advertising and marketing also support free email, news, entertainment, search tools, navigation and more, which Americans value at thousands of dollars per person annually.
However, a growing effort in Washington to restrict popular advertising and e-commerce technology could grind this powerful economic engine to a halt, even as more Americans earn their living online. Despite the odds, 2021 was a record-breaking year for start-ups, due to free promotional opportunities the ad-supported internet provides, and precision advertising and marketing. These important tools for small businesses are now in jeopardy.
Internet for Growth calls on Congress to ensure Americans’ ability to develop new products, good jobs, and economic growth with the help of the ad-supported internet. Instead of laws punishing a few big companies, which would instead punish ordinary people, we need a federal data privacy law setting basic principles we can all follow, one that protects online privacy and preserves our country’s spirit of ingenuity. But Congress is currently considering national privacy legislation that could subject entrepreneurs and innovators to new rules, regulations and penalties that could hinder the growth we’ve made over the years.
We urge you to consider the impact on us and our customers when debating the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act, the Competition and Transparency in Digital Advertising Act, or the American Data Privacy and Protection Act, which could raise costs at a time of high inflation, while destroying the speed and personalization users expect from their online experience. Bills targeting just a few companies could have unintended consequences for the rest of us. As technology advances, America needs flexible, forward-looking solutions that preserve not only small businesses’ ability to compete in the modern economy, but also the United States’ ability to compete globally.
A – Town Builders Athens, OH |
Law Offices of Jason L Abelove Garden City, NY |
AJ&E BREAD COMPANY Fort Lauderdale, FL |
LEIBOWITZ SOLO Phoenix, AZ |
AJI Capital Huntington, NY |
Lightmind Hypnosis Carlsbad, CA |
Aker Ink Scottsdale, AZ |
Lincoln Strategy Group Tempe, AZ |
Alair Seattle, WA |
Love Our Designs Pecan Gap, TX |
AT&T San Diego Line Anaheim, CA |
Lythos Studios Richmond, VA |
Baby Chick Cypress, TX |
Maple Tech International LLC Spring, TX |
Barrie Search Solutions Jericho, NY |
Markies Creations LLC Eaton, OH |
BioSymetrics Inc. Huntington, NY |
Marriage Family Therapist Fairfield, CA |
Boehm’s Exteriors Rapid City, SD |
Marson Media Phoenix, AZ |
Born 2 Sparkle Weston, OH |
Mattertraffic Shoreham, NY |
Carol Coy Cuba, MO |
McKone Strategies, LLC Phoenix, AZ |
Cellys Sweets & Arrangements Los Angeles, CA |
Miller Girls Pet Care Service Bingen, WA |
Channel Marketing Richmond, VA |
Music Moves Me Corp New York, NY |
Commercial 33 Phoenix, AZ |
North Jersey Research Bernardsville, NJ |
Connections Marketing & Communications Phoenix, AZ |
Olympic Tile Virginia Beach, VA |
Consultation Treatment Services Floral Park, NY |
Overbrook A. Capital Group Hempstead, NY |
Crown Jewels and Coin Albuquerque, NM |
Paddle Feet Farm Manassas, VA |
Culver Street Strategy Phoenix, AZ |
Paige Thomas LLC Windsor, CO |
Curated Chronicle Upland, CA |
Paws and Stripes LLC Riverside, CA |
Damian Motlo Fitness Phoenix, AZ |
Peel Simply Skin San Diego, CA |
Derrough LLC Mills River, NC |
Pot Pie Factory Inc. Seattle, WA |
DH Crystal Company Powell, OH |
Press1toTalk.com LLC Glendale, AZ |
Digital Air Strike Scottsdale, AZ |
Redfern Inn at Rocky Point Winery Lakeside Marblehead, OH |
Dimick Farms Platte, SD |
Restaurant Santa Cecilia Los Angeles, CA |
Drunken Cake Pops Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
S.S. Creative Co. Altamont, NY |
Due Amici Columbus, OH |
Safety NEST Indian Trail, NC |
Dunn Transportation Scottsdale, AZ |
Savoir Cooking & Wine Powell, OH |
Echo Vienna, VA |
Simply LaKita Dothan, AL |
Emjaye Coffman, LLC Scottsdale, AZ |
Soto Surfcfrat Garden Grove, CA |
Empty Spaces, LLC Lake Havasu City, AZ |
Stone House Farm LLC Purcellville, VA |
ENSPIRE Magazine Bronx, NY |
Sugar Plum Corpus Christi, TX |
Envision Leadership Solutions Upland, CA |
Sugarbowl Scottsdale, AZ |
Epic Digital Marketing Online Services FL |
Sweet Experience Oregon, OH |
Evergray Media LLC Culver City, CA |
Tadpole Marketing Los Angeles, CA |
FABLE Branding + Advertising Midlothian, VA |
Take Care Home and Dog Services Jacksonville, FL |
Fairmount Church of God Anderson, IN |
Taquito Y Más Catering Services North Hills, CA |
Fiesler’s Forge Ltd. Olmsted Falls, OH |
Tempe Desert Haven, Vacation Rental (DBFCC, LLC) Winslow, AZ |
Forget Me Not Designs Monroe, WA |
The Cook’s Garden by HGEL Venice, CA |
Fose + McKay Phoenix, AZ |
The DanielleVincent Agency Holland, OH |
FRIKINtech, Inc Williston, VT |
The Design Assistant Culver City, CA |
Front Range Roofing Greeley, CO |
The Dog House Seattle, WA |
Gilmartin Consulting New Brunswick, NJ |
The Innovative Daycare Corp Freeport, NY |
Griffin Consulting Services Norwalk, CA |
The Lighthouse Information Network LLC Coeur D Alene, ID |
Heroes Patriot Water Oceanside, NY |
Timothy L Lloyd DC, FIAMA, CSCS Perrysburg, OH |
Hunt Country Wildlife Control Purcellville, VA |
Tip Top Photo Booths Aldie, VA |
HuntHikeHook Chandler, AZ |
Trellus Same Day Delivery Long Beach, NY |
Ice Cream Conversations Loganville, GA |
Tunnl Arlington, VA |
Ingersoll Automotive Danbury, CT |
Tupperware Topeka, KS |
Irvie Homes LLC Albuquerque, NM |
Verde Olivo Floral and Botanical Upland, CA |
JSpray LLC Lincoln, NE |
Virginia Diner Wakefield, VA |
KaBeAraby Tucson, AZ |
W L Leonhardt Co Inc Santa Ana, CA |
Klink Campaigns Inc. CA |
Walker Strategic Communications Pinehurst, NC |
KLS Marketing Group Chandler, AZ |
Warzone Boxing Club Upland, CA |
Knotts Medical Billing Inc. Eugene, OR |
Wavelengths Psychology PC Merrick, NY |
Kristin Richardson Richmond, VA |
William Carter PLLC Tempe, AZ |
La Posada Hotel LLC Winslow, AZ |
Wolfpack United LLC Hempstead, NY |
Law Office of Sylvia Cabana Garden City, NY |
Worn Beauty Myrtle Beach, SC |