Internet Lobbying Group Expands to California

Nearly two years after Google, Facebook and other Internet companies launched their own DC lobbying group, the Internet Association is expanding to open a Sacramento-based office.

While the trade group hasn’t been around very long, it has already become a growing presence on Capitol Hill, where Michael Beckerman and his staff of seven have made Internet companies’ and startups’ feelings known about a wide range of issues, from NSA surveillance programs and data security to privacy issues and patent troll legislation.

Although the Internet Association plans to hire more lobbyists to focus on state and local issues in the future, it’s kicking off those efforts in California because that’s where a majority of its members are based, Beckerman said.