A new trade group representing the interests of Internet companies is set to launch on September 19, with the politically experienced Michael Beckerman as its inaugural president and CEO.
Google, Facebook, Amazon and eBay are reportedly among the founding members of the Internet Association, as the organization is named.
It intends to be “the unified voice of the Internet economy, representing the interests of America’s leading Internet companies and their global community of users” by taking advocacy positions on public policy issues. Its stated goal is to “strengthen and protect an open, innovative and free Internet.”
That mission statement makes it clear that the Internet Association wants to ensure legislators are better informed before they work on another bill like the Stop Online Piracy Act or the Protect IP Act, bills that had ramifications beyond what most politicians understood.
Beckerman formerly served as House Energy and Commerce Committee deputy staff director and has a background in telecom and Internet policy.
He issued the following statement: “The Internet isn’t just Silicon Valley anymore, the Internet has moved to Main Street. Our top priority is to ensure that elected leaders in Washington understand the profound impacts of the Internet and Internet companies on jobs, economic growth and freedom.”
Related links:
The Internet Association – http://internetassociation.org
National Journal – Exclusive: New Internet Industry Trade Association to Launch
Washington Post – Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay form new Washington lobbying group
AdWeek – Coming Soon: The Internet Association
TG Daily – New lobbying group draws industry heavyweights
Photo by Flickr user radioedit, used under Creative Commons license
