More Telecom Dollars Go to Democrats, Reports Show
Communications and technology PACs gave $2 million to Democratic candidates in the first half of 2007, compared with $1.5 million to Republicans, according to Federal Election Commission records compiled by Political Moneyline. The industry is the fourth largest contributor among corporate PACs for the 2007-08 election cycle, its $3.6 million slightly behind the No. 1-ranked agriculture sector at $3.9 million. It’s a position likely not to change, as communications has held the No. 4 spot since the early 1990s.
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Shifting political dynamics are evident this year, with Democrats gaining more PAC money. In the 2005-06 cycle, communications and technology industry PACs gave $21.8 million to candidates, with $13.2 million going to Republicans and $8 million to Democrats. The DTV transition law and an omnibus telecom bill moving through the House and Senate Commerce Committees helped push spending beyond the 2004-05 cycle’s $18 million. Some lobbyists think this year could show a decline in spending vs. 2005-06.
AT&T outlays ranked third among corporate PACs the first half of 2007, with $1.1 million split about 60/40 between Republicans ($446,200) and Democrats ($304,350), according to preliminary data. The company increased giving to Democrats, compared with 2006, when the split was about 70/30 Republican-Democrat, with GOP candidates getting about $1.3 million and Democrats $565,750.
Communications PACs were among the top 100 contributors, according to the half-year reports organizations must file. Comcast gave $576,950; NCTA, $574,499; Verizon, $461,900; Microsoft, $283,500; Qwest, $243,738; NAB, $229,500; Clear Channel, $225,500; and T-Mobile, $177,500.
Among communications PACs, phone companies spent the most: $1.1 million, with Republicans getting $594,333 and Democrats $511,954. AT&T was the largest donor, followed by Qwest and USTelecom. The next-largest category was TV and cable, spending $304,000, including $236,000 to Democrats and $68,000 to Republicans. Comcast and Viacom were the leading donors.