TracFone Wireless lobbying of Capitol Hill stayed steady...

lobbying expenditures in the quarters immediately before that. TracFone has frequently lobbied on the Lifeline program, facing attacks from some lawmakers on that front (CD Nov 8 p6). Its Q2 report this week lists the Lifeline program and wireless taxation issues as priorities. Q2 lobbying disclosure reports are due Monday, and several have begun trickling in already, especially from lobbying firms. The Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance spent more on lobbying in Q2 of this year than last year, reports show -- $35,000 now compared to $19,000 over the same time last year. It has lobbied on both cybersecurity and video market issues related to retransmission consent, said its latest form. RIAA’s 2014 U.S. lobbying spending totaled $1.25 million in Q2, a slight uptick from its $1,054,551 in Q1, according to lobbying disclosure forms. In 2013, RIAA spent $1,089,957 in Q4; $972,936 in Q3; $1,256,703 in Q2; and $1,271,804 in Q1. RIAA lobbied the House and Senate on bills like the Songwriter Equity Act (HR-4079) and the Respecting Senior Performers as Essential Cultural Treasures Act (HR-4772) (CD June 19 p11), among others. ICANN U.S. lobbying spending totaled $145,000 in Q2, the same as Q1, showed lobbying disclosure forms posted this week. ICANN paid Mehlman Castagnetti ($80,000) and Kountoupes Denham ($60,000) for their lobbying efforts in Q2, the same amounts the firms received in Q1, said a spokesman. ICANN spent $145,000 on lobbying in both Q3 and Q4 of 2013; it spent $140,000 in both Q1 and Q2 the same year. ICANN lobbied Capitol Hill and several federal agencies, including NTIA and the State Department on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority contract (CD July 17 p15) with the Commerce Department and the new generic top-level domain program, among other issues.