Washington, D.C., March 24, 1999 – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has joined a dozen public interest groups in calling upon the U.S. Senate to endorse President Clinton’s proposal to increase funding for the federal antitrust mission.
“We recognize the tremendous challenges that face the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission as they strive to maintain competition as the fundamental engine of our market economy,” said CCIA and the other groups, including the American Antitrust Institute, in a joint statement sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month.
“We call upon Congress to appropriate and authorize a substantial increase in the funding available to the antitrust agencies. We endorse the President’s proposed increases as a reasonable and necessary step in the right direction and we pledge to work to assure that the American people understand that a robust antitrust policy is a bargain that repays the public many times over.”
An international, nonprofit alliance of computer and communications senior executives, CCIA has a 26-year history of involvement leading public policy debates dealing with antitrust enforcement and has often sought vigorous enforcement to preserve competition within its industry, most notably in the government’s antitrust action against International Business Machines. Over the last few years, CCIA has also become a major voice in the debate over the United States v. Microsoft Corp. antitrust trial, which is scheduled to reconvene in April.
Throughout its mission to promote full, fair and open competition within its industry, the Association has traditionally argued that the value of antitrust is not to dictate to markets but to keep them open and functioning. Government measures to prevent monopolies and level playing fields for new entrants in the marketplace encourage healthy competition, innovation and consumer choice without the burden of intrusive regulation.
Other groups signing the statement included the Air Carriers Association of America, the American Public Power Association, the American Society of Travel Agents, the Business Travel Coalition, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, the National Farmers Union, the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, the Organization for Competitive Markets, Public Citizen, and the Utility Consumers Action Network.