With merger before feds, T-Mobile, AT&T ramp up lobbying spending

AT&T, seeking regulatory approval to buy T-Mobile USA, has ramped up lobbying efforts in Washington (DC).

The telecommunications giant has spent $4.9 million to lobby the federal government in the second quarter of 2011, up 58 percent from the same quarter a year ago. The lobbying money was reported in the company’s recent quarterly earnings report. Meanwhile, T-Mobile reported spending $1 million on lobbying efforts in the second quarter, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, up from the $602,000 that T-Mobile spent in the second quarter of 2010 and up from the $690,000 T-Mobile spend in the first quarter of 2011. AT&T also is lobbying for support to create a national wireless broadband network, and AT&T wants federal approval to use more spectrum for mobile apps and online videos.