The Internet Innovation Alliance Tuesday named David Sutphen co-chairman. He succeeds Larry Irving, who stepped down to become vice president of global government affairs at Hewlett Packard.

Sutphen will work with co-chair and co-founder Bruce Mehlman to promote broadband availability and adoption across the U.S. Mehlman is a co-founder of lobbying firm Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti.

"Today, [broadband] delivers critical health care, education and employment opportunities as well as the compelling news and entertainment content we all demand," said Sutphen in a statement. "Our challenge is to ensure that all people, regardless of race, income or geography, are benefiting from this revolution."

Sutphen is a partner at public affairs firm Brunswick Group. He was formerly with Viacom and the Recording Industry Association of America. Earlier in his career, Sutphen was a staffer for Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Sutphen is also the brother of Monica Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff. In addition, he recently was part of a board that created of a new business trade group called Business Forward. See Tech Daily Dose's coverage of the group here.