The Internet Content Coalition began meeting in February of 1996 in response to the Communications Decency Act, which was viewed generally by Web publishers as an ill-informed and awkward attempt at regulating Web content. At meetings held in June, 1996 under the auspices of MIT and The WELL, in July, 1996 at Sony, and in October, 1996 at the Freedom Foundation's Media Studies Center in Manhattan, attendees focused on their future mission and membership, and highlighted a wide range of needs to be met by an Internet content association.