Dean Nelson (L), eBay Inc.'s VP of Data Center Strategy and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg

Mark Scott, Rio Rancho city councilor and  owner of the small Internet-based business Total Lighting Supply, participated in the ninth annual U.S. of eBay Advocacy Day on April 30. He was one of 43 business people from around the country eBay invited to attend because of involvement in its small-business advocacy program.  During his visit to Washington, DC, Mark met with his Members of Congress to discuss issues important to his business, including protecting small businesses from new Internet sales tax burdens.

A recent study released by ADP showed that small businesses really are the backbone of the American economy.  According to the study, from February to March of this year, small businesses created 72,000 jobs, or 38% of all employment gains.  In addition, the study found that very small businesses, those with 1-19 employees, were responsible for 53% of the small business jobs created.

This week, David London, Senior Director & Head of State Government Relation for eBay Inc, participated in a panel discussion at the first annual SHARE Conference in San Francisco.  The SHARE conference brought together entrepreneurs, small business owners, policy makers and business leaders to discuss and exchange ideas on the changing landscape of the sharing economy.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to move ahead with a net neutrality plan that would allow Internet providers to charge websites for faster service.  In response to the vote, the Internet Association, which represents the interests of the leading Internet companies, including eBay Inc., released the following statement:

This week, two tech-enabled small businesses were featured in their local papers to highlight the growing concern among the small business community with the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act pending in Congress.

Yesterday, Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) both filed amendments to the tax policy legislation currently being debated in the U.S. Senate that would protect small businesses from the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act currently being debated in Congress.