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from: AP News

Verizon Paid Lobbyist $80K

Thursday June 21, 6:33 pm ET
Verizon Paid the Udwin Group $80,000 in Second Half of 2006 for Cable TV Franchise Reform

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Verizon Communications Inc. paid the Udwin Group $80,000 in the second half of 2006 to lobby the federal government on cable television franchise reform, according to a disclosure form.

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New York-based Verizon and AT&T Inc. have aggressively lobbied federal and state governments to eliminate the need to secure franchises from thousands of local governments. The companies say the process is time-consuming, delaying their efforts to offer television service as they spend billions of dollars to lay fiber optic lines around the nation.

To offer such service, companies negotiate with municipalities on a franchise agreement that could include use of rights of way to lay down fiber, public safety requirements and consumer protections, among other things.

Several states have passed franchise laws and the Federal Communications Commission in December adopted new measures to ensure that local governments don't block new competitors from entering the cable TV market.

The new FCC rules require local governments to accelerate the approval process for new competitors, cap fees paid by new entrants and ease requirements that competitors build systems that reach every home. Local governments are challenging the FCC's new rules.

Since 2004, Verizon has been offering residential fiber-optic service, or FiOS, in which subscribers get telephone and broadband Internet service. But, in some areas, they can also receive cable TV, depending on local franchise approval.

The disclosure form was posted online Wednesday by the Senate's public records office.

Another disclosure form filed last year said Verizon paid $80,000 to the Udwin Group in the first half of 2006 to lobby on the same issue.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.