The head of a trade association that represents competitors of the large regional telephone companies resigned after his lobbying plan was published by mistake on the Federal Communications Commission's Web site.
...Details of a lobbying strategy -- and lobbyists' assessments of the officials they lobby -- are usually top secret. Lawmakers and regulators exhibit a strong distaste for any hint that interest groups are working to manipulate them, even though that is precisely what lobbyists regularly do.
WaPo article...Details of a lobbying strategy -- and lobbyists' assessments of the officials they lobby -- are usually top secret. Lawmakers and regulators exhibit a strong distaste for any hint that interest groups are working to manipulate them, even though that is precisely what lobbyists regularly do.
Well, yeah, but we're the people who can't even shift our working hours up an hour without setting our clocks to pretend it's still the same time.
The disclosure of the candid document embarrassed ALTS and subjected it to ridicule among other lobbying organizations. The incident was also the latest in a series of setbacks suffered by ALTS in recent months. The FCC and federal courts have ruled that regional telephone companies no longer are required to share key parts of their telephone networks with rivals, including ALTS member companies. The result of those decisions is likely to make it more difficult for ALTS member companies to compete for customers.
...The document alleged that FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell will support President Bush's push for high-speed Internet growth "before the election" and that Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy, also a Republican, "will follow the lead of the Chairman."
...In addition, the document said ALTS has "helped" with five fundraising events this year, for Stevens, Sens. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) and Rep. Charles W. "Chip" Pickering Jr. (R-Miss.). It also suggested that ALTS and its member firms needed to raise even more money for lawmakers.
...The document alleged that FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell will support President Bush's push for high-speed Internet growth "before the election" and that Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy, also a Republican, "will follow the lead of the Chairman."
...In addition, the document said ALTS has "helped" with five fundraising events this year, for Stevens, Sens. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) and Rep. Charles W. "Chip" Pickering Jr. (R-Miss.). It also suggested that ALTS and its member firms needed to raise even more money for lawmakers.
Just a little peek at the way things really work. So, beyond the embarrassment and horror for the hopeful competitor, is the real message in all of this that there is no chance in hell mega communications companies can be challenged?
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