Why It Matters

Small businesses are increasingly dependent on digital platforms and AI tools for growth, with 88 percent now using AI and 91 percent selling across multiple channels. The Connected Commerce Council’s $205,000 fourth quarter lobbying push addresses a fundamental threat: Congress is advancing sweeping antitrust bills targeting app stores and digital advertising, alongside platform liability reforms that could increase compliance costs for the ecosystems small businesses rely on.

At stake is whether regulations designed to curb Big Tech will inadvertently harm the small merchants, creators, and entrepreneurs who use these platforms to reach customers. The Open App Markets Act and proposals reforming Section 230 liability could reshape platform economics. A legislative solution looks like antitrust enforcement that preserves platform functionality for small sellers and AI regulation that establishes a single national standard rather than state-by-state patchworks.

By the Numbers

Connected Commerce Council spent $205,000 in the final quarter of 2025 lobbying through Majority Group LLC, its longest-serving advocacy partner since January 2019. The organization has deployed $4.3 million across 30 filings with Majority Group over nearly seven years.

This represents 3C’s sole lobbying disclosure for the quarter, aligning with typical quarterly expenditures and reflecting steady engagement despite significant congressional activity on platform regulation. The organization previously used Miller Strategies LLC for specialized antitrust work ($500,000 across 16 filings from May 2022 to January 2026) and Subject Matter for brief technology support ($120,000 across four filings through February 2023).

The Agenda

The Connected Commerce Council focuses on "small business & technology" and "digital platforms and technology related issues for the small business community," according to disclosure filings.

Key legislative priorities include:

  • Antitrust and competition policy: The Open App Markets Act and AMERICA Act, which could reshape how small businesses access digital advertising and app distribution.

  • Platform liability reform: The Kids Online Safety Act and Section 230 reform proposals, which could increase compliance costs for platforms small businesses use.

  • AI support for small business: The AI-WISE Act and AI for Mainstreet Act, directing resources toward helping small businesses adopt artificial intelligence.

Broader Context

Congress is advancing legislation that could reshape digital commerce. The Open App Markets Act targets Apple and Google’s app store control, while the AMERICA Act aims to break up Google and Meta’s digital advertising dominance. Platform liability reforms like the Kids Online Safety Act could impose costly compliance burdens.

However, supportive measures are advancing. The AI-WISE Act would direct the Small Business Administration to provide AI adoption resources, while the Small Business Technological Advancement Act would allow SBA loans to finance digital tools.

Small business platform dependency creates vulnerability—89 percent of small business TikTok users call the platform critical to operations. Recent court rulings, including a Virginia court’s April 2025 ruling against Google’s digital advertising monopoly, signal judicial willingness to reshape platform markets.

Competitive Landscape

3C operates within a crowded advocacy space. Shopify Inc. emerges as a natural ally, lobbying on e-commerce growth, AI benefits for small businesses, and payment system competition. Meta Platforms Inc. lobbies extensively on AI regulation and privacy, creating potential common ground on antitrust defense while diverging on content moderation.

This fragmented landscape means 3C’s $205,000 quarterly investment must compete for congressional attention amid sustained, well-funded advocacy from multiple directions.

The Bottom Line

The Connected Commerce Council’s consistent lobbying investment reflects strategic positioning during an active legislative period. With Congress simultaneously pursuing antitrust bills, reforming platform liability, and supporting small business AI adoption, 3C’s advocacy aims to protect platform ecosystems while opposing regulations that could disrupt digital commerce operations.

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