Four of the biggest US technology companies are getting a belated chance to give feedback on antitrust legislation that could force drastic changes to their business models and consumer products, according to Bloomberg.
The House antitrust subcommittee last month asked Alphabet’s Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple for more information on how the panel’s package of antitrust bills would affect the companies.
The request comes more than three months after the House Judiciary Committee approved the measures on bipartisan votes, despite complaints from the companies that the process was rushed and they hadn’t been given an opportunity to weigh in.
The bills are stalled amid a busy legislative calendar and several fiscal deadlines demanding Congress’s attention. When asked about the legislation during a Tuesday, October 5, hearing, House antitrust Chairman David Cicilline said he’s working with Republicans to make sure that members of both parties understand the technology markets that the subcommittee examined during a 16-month investigation.
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“We are committed to making sure these bills come to the floor, not just for a vote but for a vote that prevails,” added Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat.
Two of the people familiar with the House request for more information said it was odd for the query to come after the committee already debated the bills. Three of the four companies have responded with general complaints about the proposals, and one of those is working on more detailed feedback. One company still hasn’t responded.
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