Comcast, GE Boost Spending as U.S. Considers NBC Deal

Comcast, the largest US cable provider, boosted spending on political donations and lobbying as it sought approval to take over the operations of General Electric's NBC Universal. Comcast spent $6.9 million to lobby the federal government during the first half of the year, up from $6.1 million during the same period in 2009, new congressional filings show. GE also increased its lobbying expenditures, to $15.4 million during the first six months of 2010 compared with $11.7 million during the same period a year earlier. Comcast increased its political action committee donations to $2.1 million between Jan. 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, up from $1.6 million during the same period two years earlier. GE's PAC made $1.7 million in contributions in 2009-10, the same as in the corresponding period in 2007-08.