In The LobbyDotcoms are waiting just like everybody else.

There's the tobacco lobby and the environmental lobby. Nowhow about the Internet lobby? The Web world is trying to catch upwith other big-money interests in the political world. Hobnobbingwith politicians and donating to campaigns aren't activitiesgenerally associated with the informal image of Net culture, butbusiness is business and politics is business, too.

TechNetis one of theindustry's most advanced lobbying groups. Members hail fromsuch companies as Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Intel and 3Com, andshare the goal of building "bipartisan support for policiesthat strengthen America's leadership of the New Economy."Specifically, TechNet seeks permanent normal trade relations withChina, "sound" business immigration policies andincreased federal investment in research.