from: " target="blank">CED Magazine [1]

Coalition forms in opposition to net neutrality

By Brian Santo, CED
5/9/2006 12:13:00 PM

A group of 24 conservative and libertarian organizations have formed the Internet Freedom Coalition (IFC) to oppose government regulations requiring network neutrality.

The new group contends the effort to assure net neutrality "is the first giant leap toward government regulation of the Internet," according to Jason Wright, president of the Institute for Liberty and an IFC co-director.

The IFC vows to organize an email campaign, place Internet banner ads and calls to action, and use "Web marketing to mobilize opposition to regulation and taxation of the Internet."

Among the 24 organizations are a number of anti-tax groups, even though there is no known connection between net neutrality and taxation.

Americans for Tax Reform, a lead member of IFC, is warning congressmen it will score any floor vote in the Senate or House on network neutrality. Members who wish to preserve their pro-free market rating will be asked to oppose network neutrality regulation, ATR said.

ATR is headed by Grover Norquist, a well-known right-wing organizer with close ties to the Republican Party and large U.S. business interests. Many other members of the new coalition are 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) groups (non-profit groups organized around issues), some of which are funded by or are known to have connections to large communications companies and to tobacco companies.