The Commerce Department agency wants input by May 23 on "the factors affecting app development and distribution, and active ways to increase competition, through government or private sector action." In February, a Senate panel approved a bill to rein in app stores of companies they said exert too much market control, particularly Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Alphabet Inc's Google (GOOGL.O).

NTIA noted that by one estimate the app economy was valued at $1.7 trillion in 2020, employing more than 5.9 million Americans.