Telecom Sector Donates To Senate Commerce Chairman

TELECOM SECTOR DONATES TO SENATE COMMERCE CHAIRMAN
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
Telecommunications, media and Internet conglomerates seeking regulatory relief from the Senate Commerce Committee are giving generously to the campaign coffers of panel Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). The largesse is notable because Stevens, who is drafting the most comprehensive overhaul of telecom laws in a decade, is not up for re-election until 2008. "The election cycle never stops for an industry that cares about its business in Congress," said Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics. Sen Stevens received $130,750 from the industry during the period covering 2005 and the first third of 2006 -- substantially more than he garnered from any other sector, according to the nonpartisan PoliticalMoneyLine. Top corporate benefactors included AT&T with $10,000 in donations, Time Warner with $8,000 and Sony Pictures with $8,000, according to Federal Election Commission data compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine. CBS parent Viacom gave Stevens $6,500. The National Association of Broadcasters, ABC parent The Walt Disney Company, DirecTV, Fox parent News Corp., and the Recording Industry Association of America each donated $5,000. The contributions were made through political action committees that can give $5,000 per candidate for a primary and another $5,000 toward the general election. Commerce spokesman Aaron Saunders said it is "ludicrous" to suggest that Stevens shapes policy based on contributions. "Frankly, it's offensive," he said.
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