Communications Industry Spending More on Lobbying
Communications lobby spending is on the upswing in 2008, based on recent figures reported to Congress. The industry spent $194.7 million in the first half of the year, compared with $171.5 million in the same period last year. The industry has increased its spending every year since 2001, with a 40 percent gain from 2006 to 2007. Communications has ranked third or fourth among the biggest spenders by industry, according to CQ’s Political Moneyline rankings. AT&T was listed among the top 10 spending organizations every year since 2000.
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AT&T, Verizon, Verizon Wireless, USTelecom and Sprint Nextel have spent the most so far this year, rankings show. In the first quarter, AT&T ranked third among top spending organizations behind the U.S. Chamber and AARP. But it dropped out of the top 10 in the second quarter. Third quarter filings, due Sept. 30, are just beginning to be compiled, and the communications industry is in third place.
Industry lobbying spending has increased every year since 2001, rising from $107 million that year to last year’s $350 million. Activity seems to have little to do with whether there are major telecom bills under considerations as in the first half of the 110th Congress. Telephone companies, led by AT&T, Verizon and USTelecom, spent the most in the first half of this year, $27 million, followed by the broadcast and computer software industries.
Issues listed on AT&T’s second quarter filing included the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act legislation, farm bill, net neutrality, health information technology and a wide array of tax measures. Verizon, which spent $6.9 million in the first half of this year compared with AT&T’s $8.5 million, listed a similar range of bills.
This is the first year companies have had to compile quarterly reports under new disclosure rules. Companies previously filed twice a year, with full reports often not available for months after the filing deadline. A September GAO report said things seem to be moving smoothly with the filings system, but recommended that lobbyists set up a standards organization that would adopt “best practices” reporting methodology to improve data collection. “The recent increase in public and congressional attention on lobbyists” heightens the importance of enforcing the law, said the GAO, which voiced concern about law enforcement’s ability to do that.