Encourage market fairness legislation

Today, more than ever before, Iowa’s workforce is dependent on technology. We use it for sales, education, recruitment, and information sharing. Our state’s schools and universities are producing tech geniuses with cutting-edge ideas and the ability to develop groundbreaking applications (apps) for companies that have revolutionized the ways business works.

Unfortunately, this ability is currently impeded by unfair, anti-competitive rules within the app store. When a developer has an idea and creates a product, they’re subject to the heavy fees impounded upon app developers. There are countless examples of how Apple has imposed anti-competitive practices, like the use of their marketplace dominance to favor their own products or the 15-30 percent transaction fee forced on developers for every purchase made through its App Store. Regardless of industry, any business will tell you that having 30 percent of your primary revenue taken off the top isn’t sustainable for long-term growth and further investment into your product.

Those in Washington, D.C. have the ability to change this. The bipartisan Open App Markets Act addresses these problems by telling Big Tech companies that they lawfully cannot impose unreasonable fees and anti-competitive practices in the App Marketplace that hinder Iowa’s small business’s success.

Fairness is a virtue in the Hawkeye State, and it’s critical for the next generation of business. I urge our congressional delegation, especially Sen. Chuck Grassley and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to protect Iowa innovation by supporting the Open App Fairness Act — leveling the playing field for all app developers.

Emmy Sharaan

Cedar Rapids