This is definitely a gotcha piece in my opinion. In 2011 AT&T sought to merge/acquire T-Mobile. Cingular/AT&T is already the largest phone carrier. The FCC denied the merger due to anti-compete laws. The FCC did this to ensure that AT&T couldn’t create a monopoly in the cell phone arena. Instead of taking this FCC ruling laying down, they are now trying to purchase legislation to limit the FCC’s rule over them. They have enlisted Representative Greg Walden, Republican of Oregon, to do their dirty work. I say enlisted but I really mean bought him off. Yes I said it. They directly donated $11k to his campaign. This is three times their average donation to any elected official. T-Mobile kicked in another 10k as they are a beneficiary here. They wanted something special from this man.
He is returning the favor. He has submitted to congress H.R. 3309: Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2012. This bill, if passed, would significantly reduce the power of the FCC to block anti-competitive mergers from taking place. I’m sorry but this sounds like a cellular version of Glass-Steagall Act. I understand that the ramifications aren’t nearly as dangerous as the repealing of Glass-Steagall, but think about the long-term effects something like this could garner. AT&T could buy up any competition that gets in their way. This may be a small thing, but if the competition is gone, what’s to stop them from charging whatever they want? There is a reason for these anti-compete laws.
Let’s forget about the ramifications of AT&T being able to purchase T-Mobile for a second and focus on the REAL problem here. Are we really ok with a company that doesn’t agree with laws just donating to a congressman’s campaign so that they can change the laws in their favor? Is this not blatant purchase of laws. Hell, let’s take it a step further. It is government for sale.
Meanwhile Lobbyist Paul Unger is to be mentioned. He has donated 10k to Mr. Walden because he represents Comcast and NCTA. Both are donors to Walden; Comcast donated as much as $30k this election cycle. Time Warner Communications $15k. Do you see where I’m going here? Everyone that has skin in this game is donating big to Representative Unger. One might say, “they are just of the belief that Greg Walden is of similar political thought.” If that was the case, they would have been donating him in the last election cycle. Only AT&T was a donor of his last cycle.
He is being PAID to fight the FCC. This will probably not pass the Senate, but I am worried that we will forget the fact that this is Pay4Play.
The Lobbyist Effect 