On the Internet Association

Several companies have launched the Internet Association recently to help represent "the interests of America's leading Internet companies and their global community of users." According to a CNET article Google, Facebook, eBay and Amazon are all a part of the backers of the association. The Association plans ro represent the interests of internet companies and their users by "advancing public policy solutions to strengthen and protect an open, innovative and free Internet."

There has been a significant need for this type of organization over the last few years and it is good to see companies with significant economic clout stepping up to fight bad legislation and promote good legislation in the technology realm. Internet policy has often been driven (in the last few years) by the MPAA and the RIAA whose primary focus is shutting down internet piracy. The new Internet Association allows companies with the same level of economic power as the movie and recording industry to counterbalance the MPAA and the RIAA in influencing public policy (without the annoying abbreviations).

The association will be headed by Michael Beckerman and based in Washington, DC. The press release announcing the new CEO is here. The Internet Association will be the first "first trade association representing the interests of the Internet economy first trade association representing the interests of the Internet economy."

Keep an eye out here, updates on the new organization will be posted as they're available.