Former Rep Pickering to lead tech company push against ‘fast lanes’

Former Rep Chip Pickering (R-MS), who currently leads the Comptel communications trade group, is leading the new Internet Freedom Business Alliance, a coalition of tech companies, realtors and start-ups pushing for strong rules for the Internet.

Companies including Tumblr, Reddit and Etsy have signed on as founding members of the alliance, which is singularly focused on network neutrality, the concept that Internet service providers should be prohibited from giving people different service depending on which websites they visit. The group seems to be targeting conservatives by pushing a “free market” agenda.