NAB, Comcast Lead Q1 Lobbying Spending in Early Filings
NAB and Comcast led among communications and tech sector Q1 lobbying expenditures reported by Friday early evening, though most companies and groups hadn't filed yet. NAB spent $3.89 million in Q1, down 4 percent from the same period in 2017. Outside firms reported $340,000 in income from lobbying on NAB’s behalf. Outside firms were already reporting $1.57 million in income for lobbying on Comcast’s behalf for the quarter. Hired firms claimed at least $1.25 million for lobbying on behalf of AT&T. There was at least $785,000 in lobbying income on behalf of T-Mobile, while consultants posted $711,000 in reports for Verizon.
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Lobbyists reported $650,000 in Q1 income from NCTA and $587,500 from Charter Communications. Dish Network reported $500,000, up 6 percent. Outside firms reported $275,000 in income from the company. Lobbyists reported $375,000 from Sprint and $220,000 from America Movil. Consultants claimed $150,000 from Cox and $106,000 from Level 3, and $455,000 from CTIA. The Competitive Carriers Association reported $170,000, down more than 5 percent. Outside lobbyists reported $40,000 from the group.
Outsiders reported $152,500 in income lobbying on behalf of BSA|The Software Alliance, down 6 percent. The group's lobbying priorities for the quarter included the EU Privacy Shield, data privacy, information technology, copyright, cybersecurity, patent reform and trade. There was at least $80,000 in income for lobbying on behalf of Incompas and $30,000 on behalf of NTCA. The Computer and Communications Industry Association reported paying out $30,000 to outside lobbyists, triple the year-ago quarter. CCIA lobbying priorities for this quarter included online sales taxes, artificial intelligence, the Cloud Act and the general data protection regulation.
One firm reported $30,000 in income lobbying on behalf of Consumer Data Industry Association, while CDIA reported paying out $210,000 for Q1 2017. Lobbying issues for this quarter included credit reporting and the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S-2155). One consulting firm reported less than $5,000 in income lobbying on behalf of the Internet Association for issues related to the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (S-1693).