Phone and Cable Money Continues to Flood Washington

The phone and cable companies released their second quarter federal lobbying reports today, and it comes as no surprise that they’re still flooding Washington with money to influence media policy and woo lawmakers.

Second quarter spending by Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner amounted to more than $11.3 million for lobbyists. So far this year the companies have spent more than $20 million combined as part of a coordinated effort to undermine open Internet protections and take away the FCC’s authority to foster universal access.

What’s more worrisome is that the dollar figures submitted only account for federal lobbying. They don’t track money funneled into Astroturf front groups or paid advertising campaigns or lobbying at the state level. Take a trip down Corruption Road if you want to see how the phone and cable companies are using money to hire former government employees as lobbyists, to wield power in Congress and to fund Astroturf front groups.

This corporate influence is bad for policy, bad for the public interest, and bad for democracy. It’s time for our leaders in the White House, Congress and the FCC to start listening to people beyond the Beltway and stop listening to “K” Street.

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.