Biden Signs Executive Order on ‘Promoting Competition in the American Economy’

President Joe Biden signed a wide-ranging executive order on Friday targeting purportedly anti-competitive business practices via “72 initiatives by more than a dozen federal agencies.” The order encourages the FTC to ban or limit non-compete agreements, ban “unnecessary” occupational licensing restrictions, prevent employers from collaborating to suppress wages, establish rules on tech companies’ accumulation of data, and ban restrictions on the right to repair electronic devices and agricultural equipment. Furthermore, the order encourages the FCC to revive “Broadband Nutrition Labels” to help customers compare internet service providers (ISPs), prevent rules that limit apartment tenants’ ISP options, limit ISPs’ early termination fees, and restore the net neutrality rules undone by the Trump administration. The order also continues a policy of supporting prescription drug imports from Canada.

Coverage was widespread across the spectrum, with left- and center-rated outlets displaying coverage more prominently on homepages. Coverage on all sides focused on various parts of the order, such as those targeting big tech companies and the right to repair.