Tech Industry Reports Mixed Q3 Lobbying Numbers
Google significantly reduced its lobbying spending in Q3 year-over-year from 2014, but remained the top tech and Internet industry spender for the quarter, according to lobbying disclosure reports due Tuesday. Google reported $3.65 million in lobbying costs for the quarter, down from $3.94 million during the same period last year. Other top companies varied between increases and decreases in their year-over-year Q3 spending. Top industry groups generally reported lower lobbying spending numbers. Several top telecom industry players also reported drop-offs in lobbying spending (see 1510200064 and 1510210051) .
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Eighteen outside firms reported $977,500 in lobbying costs on behalf of Google through Tuesday, including $80,000 each to Crossroads Strategies, Gephardt Group Government Affairs, Podesta Group and S-3 Group. Google's own filing indicated the company lobbied on a wide range of issues, including cybersecurity, exceptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and patent legislation.
Oracle increased its Q3 spending to $2.48 million, from $1.2 million during the same period in 2014. Sixteen outside firms reported $1.07 million spent in lobbying on Oracle's behalf, including $130,000 in costs at DLA Piper, $110,000 at Podesta Group and $90,000 each at Fierce Government Relations and Roberti White. Oracle's lobbying interests included the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (S-754), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act Amendments Act (S-356) and the Judicial Redress Act (HR-1428/S-1600).
Amazon's Q3 spending rose to $2.02 million in Q3 from $1.18 million during the same period in 2014. Nine outside firms reported $525,000 in lobbying work for Amazon, including twin $80,000 charges from Akin Gump for Amazon and its Amazon Prime Air subsidiary. Squire Patton also reported $80,000 in costs for Amazon work. Amazon's lobbying interests included ICANN and its Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition, E-rate modernization, Copyright Office modernization and other IP issues, along with corporate tax issues.
Microsoft's lobbying spending rose to $1.89 million for the quarter, from $1.66 million in Q3 2014, while 21 outside firms reported $1.02 million in lobbying costs for the company. Intel's Q3 spending increased to $1.06 million from $810,000 last year, while Apple's spending decreased to $980,000 from just over $1 million in the same period. IBM increased its spending to $860,000, from $850,000 in Q3 2014, while Cisco's spending decreased to $710,000, from $730,000. Yahoo spent $690,000 during the quarter, down from $730,000 during the quarter in 2014.
The Internet Association reported $360,000 in lobbying costs in Q3, down from $400,000 during the same period in 2014. Franklin Square Group reported $350,000 in lobbying work for the group. The Software & Information Industry Association reported $340,000 in lobbying costs, down from $350,000 in 2014. The Computer & Communications Industry Association reported $25,000 in costs, down from $60,000 last year. Outside firms reported $60,000 in costs on CCIA's behalf.