Comcast and Time Warner Cable Spend Thousands to Honor Commissioner Who Will Decide Merger
Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable (TWC) are spending tens of thousands of dollars to honor a federal regulator who will rule on their proposed merger.
In May, a little more than a month after the two companies requested Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review of the deal, TWC made a $22,000 contribution to a nonprofit group in honor of FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. The company reported making the contribution to the Walter Kaitz Foundation, an industry group that seeks to advance the contributions of women and multi-ethnic professionals in cable.
The contribution is likely tied to the 31st Annual Walter Kaitz Foundation Fundraising Dinner scheduled for September 17, 2014, at which Commissioner Clyburn will be honored. TWC is listed as a “benefactor” on the event’s supporters’ page and the cost of a “benefactor” level table package at the dinner is $22,000. Comcast, meanwhile, is listed on the foundation’s web site as a “presenting sponsor” for the dinner, which costs $110,000.
Companies that lobby are legally required to disclose a range of contributions in honor of government officials, including payments for an event to honor or recognize them, in reports filed twice a year with the House and the Senate. TWC reported the contribution in honor of Commissioner Clyburn on its report for the first half of 2014. Unlike TWC, Comcast did not report any contributions honoring Commissioner Clyburn in its most recent lobbying contributions report, though if its $110,000 disbursement was made after the deadline for that filing, it should appear in the company’s report for the second half of 2014, required to be filed early next year. As a presenting sponsor, Comcast will be prominently recognized with marquee recognition, premier seating for 40 guests, and inclusion in a wide variety of ads and “E-News Blasts.”
CREW
http://www.citizensforethics.org/blog/entry/merger-comcast-time-warner-cable-spending-to-honor-fcc-commissioner-clyburn