Computer & Communication Industry Association

Antitrust Enforcement Over-deters Acquisitions, Squeezing Smaller Startups and Venture Capital Investors

A "process is the punishment" antitrust enforcement regime from mid-2021 through 2024 over-deterred acquisitions, significantly impacting venture-backed startups and venture capital investors. This "merger tax" led to a sharp decline in acquisitions of smaller startups that can't IPO. The result: reduced exit multiples, increased shutdowns, and constrained venture capital returns. This dynamic undermines innovation, particularly in AI startups, which comprised a third of venture capital deals in 2023, and risks broader economic and security risks from impaired U.S. tech leadership.

Research

The Supply Chain Costs of the FCC’s 2026 Covered List Regime

The FCC's 2026 Covered List regime now bars routers, drones, inverters, and robots made anywhere abroad, yet no agency has estimated the cost. This study finds domestic-only production-location det...

  • Digital Economy
Research

Steering Fees and the Risks of Price Regulation

This report, prepared for CCIA by the economic consultancy S&W Group, examines the UK competition regulator's plan to let app developers point customers to payment options outside Apple's and Googl...

  • Competition
Research

Public First UK Survey of Consumers’ App Store Experiences

The UK Competition and Markets Authority just closed its consultation on new Conduct Requirements that would constrain how app stores protect consumers and regulate their fees. The conduct requirem...

  • Competition
Research

The EU Space Act Could Cost the U.S. Billions; Negotiating an Equivalence Decision Could Mitigate Those Costs

The EU Space Act could impose billions in incremental compliance costs on U.S. companies, which would lead to increased market prices, reduced U.S. exports, reduced U.S. tax revenues, harm to the U...

  • Space & Spectrum