Interest Groups defined
The Patterson textbook defined interest groups as " any organizations that actively seeks to influence public policy. It also provides some important traits of interest groups:
- Groups that do not have economic activity as their primary focus often have organizational difficulties.
- Lobbying and electioneering are the traditional means by which groups communicate with and influence political leaders.
- The interest-group system over-represent business interests and fosters policies that serve a group's interest more than the society's broader interests.(Patterson, Chapter 9)
Fight for the Future(FFTF)
Fight for the future is a non-profit organization dedicated to keep internet free and open for all. They receive their funds from foundations that promote online democracy and freedom like Wallace Global Funds and Media Democracy Funds. They also receive supports from online companies like Yelp, Credo and VPN.com. They have carried out many projects lobbying and raising awareness of net neutrality.
One of those projects is Battle for The Net. FFTF tried to mobilize net neutrality supporters to call their representatives and senators. This was an attempt to put pressure on Congress. Another project called HELLOVOTE! was designed to simplify the registration process for voting and encourage people who support net neutrality, to vote and let their voices be heard. They also tried to apply outside pressure through grassroots lobbying. For example, in their project Business for Net Neutrality, they have already obtained more than 6,000 letters from small business owners that support an open internet.
One of those projects is Battle for The Net. FFTF tried to mobilize net neutrality supporters to call their representatives and senators. This was an attempt to put pressure on Congress. Another project called HELLOVOTE! was designed to simplify the registration process for voting and encourage people who support net neutrality, to vote and let their voices be heard. They also tried to apply outside pressure through grassroots lobbying. For example, in their project Business for Net Neutrality, they have already obtained more than 6,000 letters from small business owners that support an open internet.
The Internet & Telecommunication Association(NCTA)
NCTA is an interest group for benefits of its member broadband and telecommunication companies. Its members include some giant companies like Comcast. NCTA has better funding and more influence over the government than FFTF. In fact, NCTA is one of largest lobbying groups in the United States. In 2014 alone, NCTA spent more than 12 million dollars lobbying congress, the executive and the courts. It is a bitter opponent of government enforced net neutrality.
Since its members are all cable or internet companies, NCTA lacks the popular support of FFTF. It rarely organizes public demonstrations, petitions and other grassroots lobbying strategies. Instead, NCTA uses its money to increase influence in the process of policy-making. Between 2008 and 2017, three largest internet services providers Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and their trade organziation NCTA had spent $572 millions lobbying federal law makers on subjects including net neutrality.
In addition to lobbying, NCTA also tried to reduce government control over internet through the courts. In 2014, NCTA successful sued FCC and the DC circuit court of appeal overruled FCC’s Open Internet Order. After Wheeler's new FCC net neutrality rules were proposed in 2015, NCTA again sued FCC but the court upheld FCC's decision to regulate ISPs and protect net neutrality. In order to put pressure on the government to repeal net neutrality rules, NCTA petitioned to the Supreme Court for a rehearing of the case.
In 2017, FCC's new chairman Ajit Pai repealed the 2015 net neutrality rules and NCTA appeared victorious for now. It also should be mentioned that Ajit Pai used to be a Verizon lawyer, thus may have links with NCTA.
Since its members are all cable or internet companies, NCTA lacks the popular support of FFTF. It rarely organizes public demonstrations, petitions and other grassroots lobbying strategies. Instead, NCTA uses its money to increase influence in the process of policy-making. Between 2008 and 2017, three largest internet services providers Comcast, Verizon, AT&T and their trade organziation NCTA had spent $572 millions lobbying federal law makers on subjects including net neutrality.
In addition to lobbying, NCTA also tried to reduce government control over internet through the courts. In 2014, NCTA successful sued FCC and the DC circuit court of appeal overruled FCC’s Open Internet Order. After Wheeler's new FCC net neutrality rules were proposed in 2015, NCTA again sued FCC but the court upheld FCC's decision to regulate ISPs and protect net neutrality. In order to put pressure on the government to repeal net neutrality rules, NCTA petitioned to the Supreme Court for a rehearing of the case.
In 2017, FCC's new chairman Ajit Pai repealed the 2015 net neutrality rules and NCTA appeared victorious for now. It also should be mentioned that Ajit Pai used to be a Verizon lawyer, thus may have links with NCTA.