Several of the country’s largest tech companies have joined forces to protect the Internet from bad policies, harmful legislation, and ignorant political figures.

The group, officially called the Internet Association, is made up of all the big name companies, including Amazon, AOL, eBay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, IAC, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Rackspace, Salesforce, TripAdvisor, Yahoo, and Zynga. Both Microsoft and Apple are absent from that list, but the group’s roster is still plenty powerful.

“The Internet Association’s policy platform is based on three planks: protecting Internet freedom; fostering innovation and economic growth; and empowering users,” the group wrote in an official announcement today. “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 Association is led by President and CEO Michael Beckerman, who has a background of getting things done on Capitol Hill. And in addition to stating its own policy platform, the group is opening up its membership to other companies.

Similarly, another coalition of Internet companies banded together a few months ago to form the Internet Defense League, which is a more grassroots effort to raise awareness about harmful policies, legislation, etc. that could negatively impact Internet Freedoms. (Also, this group uses a Cat Signal to raise awareness rather than money and congressional influence.)

Via TNW

Capital building photo via Frank Jr/Shutterstock