The group has been in trouble since Microsoft pulled out and it has been effectively despite being torn by competing pressures from its huge and smaller member companies on issues like antitrust.

In a statement the body said that the industry has undergone tremendous growth and change since the Internet Association was formed almost 10 years ago, and in line with this evolution, the Board has made the difficult decision to close the organisation at the end of this year.

It added: "IA has made great progress on its mission to foster innovation, promote economic growth, and empower people through a free and open internet."

IA once called itself "the unified voice of the internet economy" and was previously a powerhouse in Washington, even as member companies like Google, Facebook and Amazon fell out of favour with everyone else in the world.