Google, Amazon, Facebook and more confirmed as members of the Internet Association
Pitching itself as the first trade alliance to represent the concerns of the online economy, the Internet Association lobbying group has just confirmed its member companies and policy platform. As suspected Amazon, Facebook, eBay, and Google are joined by other large tech firms, under the leadership of Capitol Hill advisor Michael Beckerman, to form the umbrella public policy organization. Citing its three main areas of focus as protecting internet freedom, fostering innovation and economic growth, and empowering users, the Internet Association will represent regulatory and political interests of its member companies, and their employees. There is no word on what the first freedom or innovation to benefit from the associations collaborative-clout will be, but while we wait to find out, you can lobby on the source link for the Mission- and Purpose-statement containing press release.
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The Internet Association Announces Membership and Policy Platform
The unified voice of the Internet economy in Washington formally launches.
WASHINGTON – The Internet Association, the nation's first trade association representing the interests of the Internet economy, America's leading Internet companies and their vast community of users, today unveiled its full membership roster and policy platform. The Internet Association, led by President and CEO Michael Beckerman, comprises 14 diverse Internet companies that form the backbone of the Internet economy.
The member companies – Amazon.com, AOL, eBay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, salesforce.com, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!, and Zynga – have joined forces to form The Internet Association, an umbrella public policy organization dedicated to strengthening and protecting a free and innovative Internet. The Internet Association will relentlessly represent this critical economic sector, in partnership with Main Street businesses and individual users, to ensure that the Internet will always have a voice in Washington and a seat at the table.
"A free and innovative Internet is vital to our nation's economic growth," said Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of The Internet Association. "These companies are all fierce competitors in the market place, but they recognize the Internet needs a unified voice in Washington. They understand the future of the Internet is at stake and that we must work together to protect it."
The Internet Association's policy platform is based on three planks: protecting Internet freedom; fostering innovation and economic growth; and empowering users. The Internet Association and its member companies engage in direct advocacy, educating policymakers on the profound positive impacts of the Internet and Internet companies on jobs, economic growth, freedom, creativity, commerce, productivity, education, prosperity and the global economy.
"The Internet is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy with an unparalleled record of job creation and innovation across all sectors," Beckerman said. "It is the Internet's decentralized and open model that has unleashed unprecedented entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation. Policymakers must understand that the preservation of that freedom is essential to the vitality of the Internet itself and the resulting economic prosperity."
