The FCC, Cupcakes and Humbug

Public Knowledge got the AT&T cupcake delivery list because someone was outraged at the sight of AT&T having total access to the staff of the Federal Communications Commission, even if was only to deliver cupcakes with AT&T logos on them, on the day after the public debate closed on the crucial network neutrality item.

AT&T, after all, is a regulated company that has billions of dollars at interest at the FCC. No one is intimating that a mere cupcake can influence the decisions of FCC officials. As former Commissioner (and interim chairman) James Quello once said, “If you can't eat their food and drink their booze and still vote against them, you shouldn't have this job.” The problem is the easy familiarity AT&T nourishes at the FCC – continually reinforcing that they are simply another part of the FCC family bringing cheer throughout the agency for the sheer, non-threatening seasonal joy of it, ulterior motives not included.

It’s more that there are a few questions, which deserve to be discussed. Why does AT&T want to spend all that money on cupcakes? What they really think they get out of it? Is it appropriate to do so? And what is the effect on other companies which also want to do business at the Commission but don't have the time, energy or resources to sweeten their advocacy as AT&T does?