lobbying

Google’s Q1 Federal Lobbying Receipt: $5M

Liz Gannes in News on April 23 at 3:45 am PT

Google spent $5.03 million on federal lobbying in the first quarter of 2012, according to a regulatory document filed Friday.

Netflix Says Its PAC Is Not About SOPA

Peter Kafka in Media on April 9 at 3:12 pm PT

Yes, Reed Hastings wants to influence government. Just like lots of big media and tech companies.

Voices

Google Taps Former Rep. Molinari to Oversee Lobbying

John Letzing, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on February 23 at 3:19 pm PT

Google Inc. has tapped former congresswoman and veteran lobbyist Susan Molinari to oversee government outreach in the Americas, adding muscle to the Internet giant’s political presence amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

News Byte

Google’s 2011 Lobbying Expenses Climb to $9.68 Million

John Paczkowski in News on January 23 at 3:50 pm PT

Google’s interests in Washington these days are quite a bit broader than they once were: Competition, privacy, patent reform, copyright, H1-B visa reform, renewable energy — the list goes on. No surprise, then, that the company doubled its federal lobbying spending in 2011. According to the latest numbers from the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database, the search sovereign spent $9.68 million in 2011 on federal lobbying — 88 percent more than it spent in 2010.

The Full Valenti: Dodd Trades His Olive Branch to Tech for a Howitzer, After SOPA/PIPA Gets Delayed

Kara Swisher in Media on January 20 at 11:32 am PT

What would Jack do? (And would it work anymore?)

Voices

“Nerd Lobby” Shows Muscle in Debate Over Piracy Bills

Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on January 18 at 3:51 pm PT

Late last fall, a select group met in the White House Situation Room to discuss U.S. Internet security and how it might falter if two anti-piracy bills being debated in Congress were to pass.

Google Loses Longtime Lobbyist (Updated)

John Paczkowski in News on November 7, 2011 at 4:15 pm PT

Alan Davidson, Google’s longtime director of public policy and government affairs, is taking a sabbatical to “explore other opportunities.”

Eric Schmidt (L) with Alan Davidson and an unidentified mime

Apple's D.C. Lobbying Efforts Get Fierce

John Paczkowski in News on February 4, 2011 at 12:01 pm PT

Apple closed its big government affairs office in Washington, D.C., in the late ’90s and since that time has maintained a fairly low profile inside the Beltway, relative to other big tech firms. But now the company has hired a high-powered new lobbying firm: Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock.

Google Puts More Cash Toward Capital Clout

John Paczkowski in News on January 31, 2011 at 4:30 pm PT

“I’ve never seen a tech company ramp up faster than they have in the last year or two,” tech lobbyist Ralph Hellmann once said of Google. “They’re using all the tools in the lobbying tool kit.” And evidently buying some new ones as well.