The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

Broadcast Lobbying Tops $222 Million

One story you won’t hear on the news

“A new investigation by the Center for Public Integrity has found that the broadcast industry spent more than $222 million lobbying the federal government from 1998 through June 2004—a period of increasingly intense battles over ownership rules.

In addition, television and radio companies contributed more than $26.5 million to federal candidates and lawmakers during the same period. The companies and their principal representative organization—the National Association of Broadcasters—also sponsored 84 trips for lawmakers and regulators at a cost of $165,474, bringing total spending to affect policy and elections by the industry to $248.9 million. ” (…more — Good article complete with charts)

Industry Battles Re-regulation

Cable lobbying climbs by 50 percent

“The cable television industry has steadily increased the amount it spends to sway opinion in Congress and at the Federal Communications Commission since 1998, according to a new Center for Public Integrity analysis.

The industry spent $16.2 million on lobbying in 1998 compared with $24.3 million in 2003, a jump of 50 percent, according to records. All told, the industry spent $120 million on lobbying from 1998 through mid-2004.

The cable television industry also spent $20.5 million on political campaigns since 1998 and sponsored 127 trips for members, family and staff of the two congressional committees that oversee the industry from 2000 through the first quarter of 2004 at a cost of $225,670. ” (more — Good article complete with charts)

The above information is from “The Center For Public Integrity”. This link will be added to the menu on your right under “Links”