lobbying

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?)

“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.

What Tech Companies Are Spending in Washington

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on December 23, 2010 at 7:46 am PT

The latest round of disclosures on what companies spend on lobbying efforts in Washington is out. Here are some highlights from tech companies.

The FCC Votes on Net Neutrality Tomorrow; the Internet Waits

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on December 20, 2010 at 7:53 am PT

The battle over net neutrality is coming to a head on Tuesday morning with a vote on the latest policy proposal by the Federal Communications Commission.

News Byte

Talk's Not Cheap for Google in D.C.

Voices in News on July 21, 2010 at 1:00 pm PT

With the federal government paying ever more attention to Google, it’s understandable that Google is returning the favor. The company’s latest lobbying disclosure shows it spent $1.34 million in the second quarter to bend the ears of lawmakers and regulators, 41 percent more than it spent in the same period last year and on a par with what it paid in this year’s first quarter. Google’s lobbying budget has been on a steady climb the past few years–focused on issues like online advertising, privacy, competition and cloud computing–though it is still topped by the outlays of companies like AT&T, Comcast and Microsoft.

"My Life on the D List" Meets All Things D

Kara Swisher in News on March 19, 2010 at 12:15 am PT

While in Washington, D.C., this week, BoomTown got to go to a dinner for comic Kathy Griffin. Griffin’s reality television show is called “My Life on the D List,” and we’re proud to share the same terrific letter. The former paramour of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak also has a very choice word for tweeting on Twitter in this very funny video.