Some of the nations largest online retailers launched on Friday a lobbying group formed to influence Congress as it tackles privacy, taxes, Internet access and other issues related to the Web, organizers said Friday.

The Online Retail Alliance is expected to serve as a collective voice for Internet retailers. ORA members include the Electronic Retailing Association, EBay Inc., InterActiveCorp and its subsidiary the Home Shopping Network, ShopNBC and others.

This is a positive step towards driving the message home to those in power in regards to issues that are important to online retailers…lets hope their voice is heard and acted on…

The group is scheduled to have its first meeting next week to outline its year long strategy on three issues: privacy, state sales taxes and Internet access.

The need for privacy, which is the protection of customers personal information; and sales taxes, which states have the right to collect, are not being challenged, Bill McClellan, director of government affairs for the Electronic Retailing Association, said. But how both items are administered are concerns of ORA members.

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