AT&T Outspent Others on Lobbying by Large Margins in Q1

AT&T was the giant among Q1 lobbying spenders at $4.58 million. That's more than double what others such as Charter Communications and Qualcomm spent, and exceeded Verizon's spending by more than $1 million. It beat what trade associations tended to expend, with such entities as NAB spending $3.76 million and CTIA $2.7 million. Comcast was another big spender, at $3.7 million. The lobbying disclosure forms were due Thursday.

AT&T lobbying focused on its pending acquisition of Time Warner, according to its form. That's one among many items of interest for AT&T on the horizon. It's also tasked with FirstNet duties after winning a contract with that network. Prime goals of the Trump administration include a major infrastructure investment package likely to include broadband and tax overhaul, two initiatives the company would have interest in. AT&T spent more than $2 million on the Trump administration inaugural efforts, outspending other communications entities (see 1704190051). Among the major carriers this Q1, Verizon spent $2.87 million, T-Mobile $1.87 million and Sprint $589,822. In the category of telecom spending, AT&T’s is only outdone by the Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform.

But it's not a record for AT&T. The Q1 spending exceeds the $4.48 million it spent this time a year ago but falls short of what it spent in some past years. In Q1 of 2012, it spent more than $7 million. In 2011, the amount was more than $6.8 million.

USTelecom, which underwent changes in leadership in the past year with new chief Jonathan Spalter taking over in January, spent far less than in the past at $480,000. Its four lobbyists devoted to telecom covered a wide range of activities, lobbying on such issues as rural call completion, ISP privacy, broadband infrastructure and the Senate’s Mobile Now spectrum bill. This is less than half of what USTelecom typically reported in past Q1s. A year ago, spending was $1.09 million, then $1.18 million a year before that and $1.25 million a year earlier. In 2016’s Q4, USTelecom spent $1.12 million and in Q3 $880,000. This past quarter included personnel changes for USTelecom government affairs, with Galen Roehl elevated to head government affairs in early March.

ISP privacy was a constant touchstone across Q1 lobbying forms, given the advance into law this past quarter of the Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval killing the FCC privacy rules. The 21st Century Privacy Coalition, an ISP-funded group that played a key role in coordinating the effort, had $270,000 in spending this Q1, across forms representing four firms: Faegre Baker, Farragut Partners, Mayer Brown and Rivendell Group. The spending is on par with past expenditures.

Also heavily mentioned was broadband infrastructure, given the focus of lawmakers on these deployment concerns and President Donald Trump’s push for a package on broader infrastructure stimulus. NTCA, which spent $230,000 this quarter and visited the White House in multiple instances on infrastructure, lobbied on “legislative and regulatory issues related to gigabit opportunity zones,” an idea of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, and “legislative, regulatory and executive issues related to the national infrastructure conversation,” according to its form. ITTA, spending just under $35,000, lobbied on “issues to ensure that broadband is part of any infrastructure legislation.” Incompas, with its nearly $145,000 in lobbying, engaged in “general lobbying related to potential infrastructure legislation, specifically to include broadband deployment provisions in the legislation such as One Touch Make Ready (OTMR) and Dig Once policies.” WIA, spending $200,000, eyed siting and broadband infrastructure issues, while tracking tax overhaul drafts and Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization in both chambers. WTA “lobbied in support of ensuring broadband infrastructure is included as part of the larger discussion about rebuilding the nation's infrastructure,” it said, noting its $80,000 in spending. USTelecom also listed broadband infrastructure issues under its telecom and tax lobbying sections.

Public Knowledge was perhaps the most granular in its Q1 filing for $5,330 of spending. It listed specific Senate and House offices lobbied and on what topics. PK’s Chris Lewis, Phillip Berenbroick and Kate Forscey were listed among lobbyists. In lobbying Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, topics were “AT&T/Time Warner merger, antitrust, privacy, net neutrality, copyright reform,” PK said. The group lobbied Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on broadband infrastructure and FCC oversight. The Writers Guild of America, West listed only the AT&T/Time Warner deal and the open internet order among its lobbying topics, spending $120,000 for Q1. Consumers Union focused on ISP privacy and robocalls with its $70,000 in spending.