The decision was made last Wednesday with the board voting to dissolve the organisation. A decision which some sources see as having been inevitable since the recent departure from the group of tech firms Microsoft and Uber.
In a statement, the board recognised that the IA “has made great progress on its mission to foster innovation, promote economic growth, and empower people through a free and open internet.” However, they added, "Our industry has undergone tremendous growth and change since the Internet Association was formed almost 10 years ago, and in line with this evolution, the board has made the difficult decision to close the organisation at the end of this year."
They said, “As this chapter closes, member companies remain committed to advancing public policy in support of this mission and will continue to work with stakeholders in other capacities.”
Despite having previously described itself as “the unified voice of the internet economy,” the IA’s influence in Washington has been steadily waning over recent years. A former employee told Axios, “What was once a leading voice for tech companies is fading into obscurity with barely a whimper and hardly anything to show for itself.”
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