Small biz pushes for 'level playing field' online

Small-business owners hailed emerging mobile app technology before a hearing on July 23 and pressed lawmakers to do more to give them a "level playing field" in the online economy. At a hearing of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Health and Technology, business owners called for the expansion of broadband connectivity and cellphone service in rural areas and urged lawmakers to hold the line against Internet sales taxes. Entrepreneur Cassie Gray, who sells handcrafted jewelry through the Etsy retail app from her home in Massachusetts, told lawmakers that the lack of reliable cell service in rural areas inhibits her business.

Business owners also singled out the Remote Transactions Parity Act, a bill from House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) that would allow states to tax businesses even if they don't have a physical presence in their state. Gray said the proposal would disproportionately harm businesses that sell most of their goods online. “In order to tap into entrepreneurship and technology, we need to keep a level playing field for everyone involved,” she said. Lawmakers also touted the jobs created by mobile apps. “Since 2007, the United States has seen more than 750,000 app economy jobs created,” said Small Business Subcommittee Member Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa). “Findings predict that the app economy will reach $151 billion by 2017,” she continued. Ranking Member Seth Moulton (D-MA) said that although “entrepreneurship in our modern economy is declining, technology like mobile apps can help lead the way.”