WASHINGTON—Microsoft Corp. spent nearly $2 million in the third quarter to lobby on issues ranging from cybersecurity to trade measures and patent reform, according to a recent disclosure report.
The software giant lobbied on efforts to map and expand the availability of high-speed Internet access and supported new rules recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission that will allow the use of "white spaces" -- the unused, unlicensed spectrum between television channels -- to deliver wireless broadband access.
In addition, the Redmond, Wash.-based company lobbied on competition in the online advertising market. Microsoft was a key opponent to a proposed advertising partnership between Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. Those two companies recently abandoned the deal in the face of a looming antitrust challenge being prepared by the Justice Department.
Microsoft also lobbied on H-1B visas and immigration legislation, as well as funding for science, technology, engineering and math education. And it lobbied on efforts to protect data security and crack down on spyware, computer programs that can surreptitiously access hard drives to track online behavior and steal sensitive personal data.
Besides Congress, Microsoft lobbied the departments of Commerce, Justice and State, Federal Trade Commission, FCC and other agencies, according to a disclosure form filed Oct. 20 with the Senate's clerk office.
Among the people registered to lobby for the company was Bill Kamela, a former staffer on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/11/10/microsoft_spent_nearly_2m_lobbying_govt_in_3q/Well, color me surprised......
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
