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Google, eBay, Facebook, Amazon form lobbying group

Industry bigwigs are ramping up their voice in Washington on topics like Internet regulation.

Donna Tam Staff Writer / News
Donna Tam covers Amazon and other fun stuff for CNET News. She is a San Francisco native who enjoys feasting, merrymaking, checking her Gmail and reading her Kindle.
Donna Tam
President Barack Obama talks with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg
President Barack Obama talks with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg before a dinner with Technology Business Leaders in Woodside, Calif., in February 2011.Also pictured is Art Levinson, Genentech chairman and former CEO. White House/ Pete Souza

The country's top Internet companies have formed a lobbying group to strengthen the industry's voice in Washington when it comes to Internet regulation, according to a press release announcing the head of the new organization.

Google, eBay, Facebook, and Amazon are among the members of the group, the Washington Post reported, citing a person familiar with the group's plans.

The group has appointed Michael Beckerman as its president and CEO. Beckerman is former deputy staff director to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees telecommunications and Internet policy, and was a longtime advisor to Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.).

The association plans to officially launch in September, when it will release its full list of members.

"The Internet isn't just Silicon Valley anymore, the Internet has moved to Main Street," Beckerman said in the release. "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.