he Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), the non-profit organization which represents video game enthusiasts, announced a new web-based initiative launching in beta form today, Gamers for Net Neutrality (www.GamersforNetNeutrality.org). The joint project of the ECA and its partners in this initiative, SavetheInternet.com and Games for Change, will be a destination for gamers of all sorts to visit and become more engaged in the fight for Net Neutrality. If this principle is not protected, it could potentially alter the way consumers use and view the internet - including slowdowns and site blocks, as well as applying fees and instituting other unnecessary obstructions.

“Gamers make up a large percentage of internet users, so our goal with the launch of Gamers for Net Neutrality is to raise awareness and increase advocacy within this space,” said Jennifer Mercurio, ECA Director of Government Affairs. “Today’s roll out is the culmination of a tremendous amount of collaboration and good will between the ECA, SavetheInternet.com, Games for Change, and other leading non-profit voices working together to protect consumer rights and keep the internet unbiased and unchanged. We’re extremely proud of this initiative, and look forward to its continued growth and progress.”

"Net Neutrality is the single biggest public policy issue facing our communities today - as educators, non-profits, small businesses and the arts, we all deserve open and equal access to the internet," says Suzanne Seggerman, President and Co-founder of Games for Change. "Why let the telecom giants dictate what speed we play our games, view our video, or listen to music? Gamers, as one of the largest audiences on the internet, need to act now - before it’s too late."

The initiative is currently live and features general information, an advocacy campaign, and a machinima video from This Spartan Life. Additionally, the project will provide resources for those interested in net neutrality issues, including links to the ECA’s own site, as well as links to other relevant websites. Gamers for Net Neutrality’s mission is to engage video game players in the real world fight to protect a free and open internet, and the ECA plans to roll out specific activities addressing this issue in the coming months.

For more information on Gamers for Net Neutrality, please visit www.GamersforNetNeutrality.org. For more information on the ECA, or to sign up for membership, please visit www.theeca.com.