Your Latest AT&T Lobbyist?
Guess which one of these folks will be your next AT&T lobbyist.
California Public Utilities Commission - CPUC - Commissioners
It is a sick thought that probably has a lot more truth to it than those who believe that our politicians and political appointees are in it for the greater good. Horse sh*t!
California’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has decided to review the AT&T / T-Mobile deal. AT&T’s $39 Billion T-Mobile Bid May Be Reviewed by California State Agency. As cynical as I am, I am sure that there is motive behind this challenge.
Flexing political muscle (via regulatory authorities) is the way the political machine enforces its power to receive something in return. Perhaps they receive concessions that actually benefit the consumer. Certainly they receive campaign donations from the parties involved. And, likely they find jobs for themselves, their friends, and/or their families. It is the way that the game is played. Sad, but true. Want to learn more about the political power game? Watch “Casino Jack and the United States of Money“.
The number of lobbyists, former FCC employees, and political staffers that were employed (or contracted) by Comcast during their recent acquisition of NBC is staggering. Comcast is not the only company that employs these tactics. Perhaps AT&T isn’t “supporting” the politicians in power the way that they would like, and seeing what happened with the Comcast/NBC deal, the California Public Service Commission decided that they needed to flex a little muscle with the AT&T/T-Mobile deal.
The Comcast NBC merger is one that probably wouldn’t have passed muster if not for the lengths that Comcast went to to ensure the approval. The recent hire of an FCC commissioner as a highly paid lobbyist (Meredith Atwell Baker) with the company that she just had a hand in approving for a major acquisition is one of the most blatant “quid pro quo” cases seen in recent years. The commissioner thumbed her nose at the critics and took a high paying lobbying post with Comcast. She may not have broken any laws, but she certainly abused the spirit of the law. She will not be able to directly lobby her former agency, but indirect influence is the way Washington works. Comcast will get their money’s worth (probably has already).
Look for the future posts of the CPUC commissioners and/or their families. My hunch is that they will be working for AT&T in the near future. I’ll write the press line for AT&T right now. “There is no one who understands the needs of our customers in the great state of California than former commissioner ______________________________”.
What a world we live in. Excuse me while I go get sick!
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