Shop.org Policy and Advocacy

NRF is the voice of retailing in the nation’s capital. NRF's lobbying team represents retailers of all types -- from mass merchandisers and specialty stores to department stores and discounters -- before Congress and the Administration. The team analyzes proposed laws and regulations, testifies before committees and agencies, and lobbies and educates government about retailing and retailer concerns and priorities.

As NRF's digital division, Shop.org is postioned to advocate on behalf of its membership.

Shop.org's initial advocacy agenda has been to expand upon current and previous lobbying efforts of its parent, the National Retail Federation, on issues such as “card not present” interchange fees and spyware. Other issues that Shop.org will explore include click fraud, patent trolling and net neutrality. Additionally, Shop.org will continue its work with NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards, helping to create benchmarks and guidelines for the industry to rely upon.

Shop.org keeps its member updated on policy initiatives via its blog.  Click here to see all the blog posts on policy issues.

Shop.org’s lobbying efforts have included the following:

• Shop.org's Policy Advisory Group participated in the Washington Leadership Conference in May of 2009.  A writeup of the event is on the Shop.org blog. 
• Shop.org and NRF supported the "Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007," which extends the moratorium on State and local government Internet access taxes for seven years, which was signed by President Bush on October 31, 2007.
• In November 2007, Shop.org and NRF asked the FTC to update 14-year-old rules governing mail-order and telephone sales to specifically include sales made over the Internet
• Shop.org and NRF submitted comments to the FTC in response to its proposed online behavior advertising principles. A copy of the comments can be seen here.

 Shop.org/NRF Policy Memos (Shop.org Members Only):

Update on Consumer Privacy and Online Legislation - July 30, 2010