Net Neutrality Group Caught Fudging Lobbying Disclosure
by Capitol ConfidentialA top network neutrality advocacy group is weathering a flap over its sketchy lobbying disclosures after it was reported last week the group had taken numerous unreported meetings with senior aides at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Free Press, among the fiercest and better funded Beltway groups lobbying for the adoption of net neutrality rules, has taken great pains to criticize industry groups for holding off-the-record meetings with FCC officials. But the group’s staff had lobbied FCC officials on more than two dozen undocumented occasions since January 2009. Additionally, discrepancies were discovered between the group’s filings relating to lobbying.
Federal legislation mandates the disclosure of lobbying efforts directed at federal employees with regard to the formulation of federal rules and laws. According to recently-obtained ex-parte data, serious discrepancies were discovered between filings with the Internal Revenue Service–which are to disclose generic, grassroots lobbying expenses–and those figures reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act–which is to monitor federal-specific lobbying expenses.
Between the years 2005 and 2010, Free Press LDA disclosures showed the group had spent little more than $150,000 on direct lobbying of legislators and federal employees. But tax filings with the IRS–only presently available up to the year 2008–revealed the organization had spent nearly $1 million on lobbying in little more than half that time.
When it was reported recently that senior FCC officials were taking off-the-record meetings with leaders in the telecommunications industry over the agency’s proposed redesign of the nation’s broadband system, Free Press cried foul, claiming that top federal regulators were “meeting exclusively with industry representatives.”
But federal regulators were not holding exclusive meetings with industry figures: As early as 2009, Free Press aides were meeting with senior officials at the NTIA; the meetings were never disclosed in the group’s quarterly LDA reports.
Emails obtained by the Daily Caller revealed one senior Free Press staffer had requested meetings with NTIA’s chief of staff Tom Power to discuss the administration’s net neutrality agenda. It was agreed that the men would meet at a Capitol Hill Starbucks — conveniently at a location where the meeting would go unreported.
According to Power’s public schedule, the pair met privately a total of three times in 2009. And on a separate occasion, Power and an aide met with a Free Press agent in August.
None of the meetings were disclosed.
Separate to the undisclosed NTIA coffee house rendezvous, FCC visitor logs revealed Free Press staff visited the agency on nearly 30 separate occasions between February 2009 and October 2009.
None of those meetings, either, were included in Free Press’ LDA reports.
“It’s a tough sell to argue that on 30 separate visits, Free Press staffers only went to the FCC–the gatekeeper of net neutrality–to talk about the weather,” one keen observer of telecommunications industry told Capitol Confidential. “Pretty obvious that Free Press willfully broke federal disclosure laws.”
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
39 Comments
We've been getting screwed for a long time by the power elite. Come on folks….. just get in line and get used to your "serfdom" role along with the rest of us that these statest's want. :-[
That, of course, is what they want you to do, but we CANNOT allow this!
The Hippocrats strike again.
Isnt that Political Wars Episode V.
“Pretty obvious that Free Press willfully broke federal disclosure laws.”
“Free Press must think they have a Free Pass”
It's not likely any investigation will happen this year, but hopefully Issa will be adding this to the long and growing list to take action on in January, 2011.
Shock, dismay,disbelief. Not. These people, and the ruling class, and their staffs will have their ticket punched on election day. It is time for a true spring cleaning. The so called free press, which I refer to as the propaganda media. So, Remember November, one city, one county, and one state at a time. Let US take our country back.
Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://remembernovember.com/
WallBuilders is an organization dedicated to presenting America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built – a foundation which, in recent years, has been seriously attacked and undermined. In accord with what was so accurately stated by George Washington, we believe that "the propitious [favorable] smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation which disregards the eternal rules of order and right which heaven itself has ordained."
http://www.wallbuilders.com/
Fellow Patriots,
On April 15th, 2009, History was made in a way that money could not buy and special agenda elitists couldn’t plan. The progressive movement and liberal agenda were taken by storm when millions of Americans began to make it clear that we’ve had enough.
Our message is simple. We elect men and women to protect our rights as Americans, and instead of getting the protection we demand, we’re being taken advantage of and abused at every turn.
That's Right. It came just after the episode about Obama, A New Dope. Can't wait for episode VI — Return of the Reaganites.
Here's something for we REAL Americans to focus on, that causes us big problems. Mayor Bloomberg and King Obama both use this mechanism all the time, but thousands of other political groups use it also!
They form coaltions, and alliances, and name the new "Club" and then go forward raising Funds to profer their rape of American's Freedom of Speech! So here in the case of New Neutrality.
Obama knows that he doesn't want to be front & center on it, so he has his lackeys around the country and in the White House, (behind closed doors of course) DRAFTING LEGISLATION on a Communist grab OF AMERICAN FREEDOM of SPEEDH!
Rise up America. Get on TV, Protest and don't let it happen. They are almost there, JUST LIKE THE HEALTH CARE OBAMA BILL. They will RAM it through! in the dead of night!
BANISH ANT-CONSTITUTIONAL LOBBYISTS! while we still have any power left.
Freedom of Speech is a Constitutional right. Anyone who lobbys against it should be prosecuted to fullest extent!
Oh and Impeach Holder for Deriliction of Duty for not enforcing our Federal Laws.
Same liberal playbook as always:
Rule #37) Accuse your opposition of doing the wrong that you are actually doing, before they can reveal that you yourself are doing it. Make them waste time proving they arent, so they have no time to prove that you *are*.
By the way ask yourself why Obama is taking questions AT A PRIVATE HOME TODAY, and answering them with his "canned lies" Legal reasons? Legal protection from his lies. HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR THE LIES HE SPEAKS ON THAT MICROPHONE! Attorneys in Ohio, please press charges for Obama's lies to a trusting public. It is Abuse of Power! Deriliction of Duty! Failure to uphold his OATH to protect and preserve The Constitution!
AND Treason! because we objected, on Camera for the last year and a half against his Policies and he FORCED them upon U.S!
Freedom of Speech is a Constitutional Right Anyone who lobbys against it should be PROSECUTED to fullest! and
Impeach Holder and Obama for Deriliction of Duty for not enforcing our Federal Laws! like our Federal Immigration Law for one.
Will somebody please give me the short short version of this issue. I am sadly, a little behind the 8-ball if you know what I mean. No, not THAT 8-ball, you racist. Thanks.
OK,now we know what the problem is,lets come up with some solutions,it's easy to piss and moan about whats going on and rightly so,we need to bring this activity out in the open,buttttttt,once it's out in the open lets start honing in on some solutions here,is what these people in DC are doing illegal?can we convict?can we get a guilty verdict? how much jailtime can we get? or is all this for naught?
Exactly what I was thinking. Just like obama's comments trying to smear "Americans for Prosperity" because "no one knows where their funding comes from." Of course, there is no doubt that an avowed criminal will always believe everyone to be as criminal as they are.
There is no honor among thieves.
Free Press, the commie free press guys. And how is that free and commie square up? Hey that's the scam. Used liberally by Democrats.
We need to station people at the capitol hill Starbucks and Caribou Coffee. Apparently those are public places where all the important decisions are made.
BTW, I like Caribou Coffee better, so I'll rather set up there. Anyone tried their Monkey Mocha?
Should Lobbying should be covered in the freedom of speech clauses too?
Are we not free to talk to congressmen without reporting what we talk about and who we associate with?
These lobbying disclosure laws were clearly made to snare Republicans, and I can't remember them being used against Democrats even if they meet with ChiCom leaders over oil deals.
Perhaps the laws themselves are part of the problem, and the real issue here is that the FCC won't decide these things in public meetings as they are required to do. Anyone should be allowed to lobby, but the FCC can have a policy that states that all business meetings be public.
PELOSI IS DESPERATE TODAY AGAINST THE TEA PARTY I!! She is inquiring into why American's are challenging the Islamic Imam? who wants to build the Victory Mosque near 9/11 REALLY NANCY? Have you heard of Freedom of Speech!? (Oh I forgot you are a socialist, The Constitution is againt your beliefs, plus you need Millions more for your private Empire)
Nancy, we will investigate the Imam AND YOU! We want you Impeached, which will happen when we throw your communist ass out in November!
Pelosi, imo, is a Communist who embraces Islam, Re-Distribution of Wealth & socialism, and is Anti-American!
I understand her because she is a Freeze-Dried Hippie from the 60s, and they all hated American Traditionalism of Freedom of Speech, and The Bill of Rights, and The Constitution, and Capitalism. They thought is was sinful.
They were all for the Re-distribution of Wealth from the hard working citizens, to the unemployed. They didn't call them "Bleeding Heart Tax and Spend Liberals" for nothing!
Pelosi YOU HAVE GONE TO FAR IN DEFENDING THE Islamic MO$QUE! And clean out the ILLEGAL TERRORISTS in America. That's more in your job description. Oh and Nancy YOU ARE NO AMERICAN!! You are a Traitor and should be tried for such!
Don't you have enough Millions already. Note to self, push TERM LIMITS on all of these communists! Hey Nancy, America doesn't believe a word out of your lips, or Obama's or Reids, or Holders, or John Mortons. So we'll see you in November!
You're being divisive and you are associating with racists in the tea party aren't you?
Meanwhile Obama and the congressional black caucus (no whites allowed) are all now involved in ethics violations…
Well since Starbucks actively supports Cap and Trade, I would suggest anywhere besides them.
Net Neutrality is not what it sounds like! Don't believe the HYPE!!!!
Our GOV. wants to control the NET now also!
Who would have more control over what you do, government oversight that, up until recently was pro neutrality as per the doctrine of the FCC, or companies that can dictate what you can access and how you can access it? govt wants oversight, they don't want to delve into what you can and cannot look at from a profit standpoint.
Rock and a hard place, look at the ownership of Caribou–51% controlling interest by an arab company in Atlanta. Try to get a ham san…
That said, their coffee isn't scorched like Starbucks.
Gads. Anyone else exhausted from trying to track the corruption?
How can we compare a simple advocacy group to that of the powers of Google, Amazon and Verizon and other Telecoms turning against net neutrality? It's not even remotely comparable in terms of influence. It's truly amazing the lengths people will go to make this about liberal vs conservative when I guarantee that the majority of you probably don't even know what's at stake if we were to lose net neutrality.
I "guarantee" what you think new neutrality is…isn't. Also, given the liberal stance is generally backwards from what a sane person would consider logical, I seriously doubt the liberal stance on this would be much different.
They can run, but they can't hide.
what is the "liberal stance?" That is pure partisan BS you are spouting, and it doesn't apply to anything logical. Net Neutrality is just as it sounds, the ability of users to have complete access to the Internet within the confines of what is legal within your country, without having to worry about corporations dictating what we can and cannot access. Conservatives think of private business as this Utopian construct of people bettering mankind via economic stimulation, but in reality, whenever corporations touch something pure, it becomes solely about profit, and the Internet will be next. If you don't believe major corporations will dissect the Internet based on what is most profitable to themselves, as opposed to their customers, you are truly naive.
bulsheit!
Ya, my head is about to explode with all these Communists that snuck into our White House, and the freakin diseased, un-educated Welfare career Illegals who smuggle Terrorists in thru Mexico, and sell Drugs to our kids, and Obamas making multi-billion dollare Deals with Pres Calderone & Foreign Dictators to erase the white man from the face of the earth! ….
Why did you have to ask me that, my good friend, now blood is shooting out of my eyes! Where's Glenn, or Hannity, or Megyn Kelly, or Monica Crowly, or Mark Levin when I need them? Grrr…… Gotta go, I need to stick my head in a bucket of ice!
Oh and LEGAL IMMIGRATION ONLY, AND CLOSE UP THE FREAKIN Borders like Fort Knox. LETS TAKE CARE OF AMERICA FOR A YEAR OF TWO AND GET BACK TO Prosperity, Free Markets, & kick out the Muslims, and any other fake Americans.
We can't afford any more wierd foreigners until next year when they can Apply with Legal Immigration Papers! Oh and KEEP TRACK OF VISA EXPIRATIONS FED GOVT!! Gotta go My head just exploded , gotta pick up the pieces so that I can organize the fight agains Voter Fraud in my Dictrict. CLEAN OUT AMERICA, & lets start over! Bring back the 50s when Honor and Trust were de rigeur!
Funny there the Communist Sorospuppets are caught doing the exact thing they bitch about on there Marxist BS web-page.
When we take the House back, hearings on groups such as this who want Marxist-style laws passed need to be completely exposed for who they are and de-funded and people imprisoned for violating the law.
FTC and the FCC and the SEC need abolished as do the lobbying activities of groups like this. Money has corrupted our system and these groups always seem to have a ton of it. If it came from a certain foreign national then off to prison for them all and a fine 10 times their assets to be invoked.
have you been to the Free-Press BS web-site? Its a front for ACORN and the rest of the Soros hate-America army of Progressive trolls.
Relax, Dude. You sound psychotic.
You're right Red47, I was just joking because I though everyone could use a laugh at my expense, but the rest bugs me; having been invaded by laser focused Communists. I want them all out, and clean out America until we are a wholesome country free of these Foreigners.
I only like Europe, because they are logical, and not Radical people. Oh and, I can't be psychotic. That's one of the subjects I teach at a University. Talk to you later Red, I have a town meeting tomorrow to work on preventing Voter Fraud by the Dems again, like they did last time to steal the election. Remember when they wrote in "Mickey Mouse" on Absentee ballots? The sob's! Take care Re47! pni
Whew. I was hoping you were only venting, but I don't have good recall of who is who in these comments.
Wait…we can all be a little psycho over this crazy "the chair is not a chair" proclamation from our President and his cronies.
After the first of the year, I am going to work on making my state a right to work state. We will be annoying some of the same kinds of people. That is fun.
The liberal stance is exactly what is implied by those words and it applies to what I directed it to. But you say it's "pure partisan BS" without stating HOW it's partisan. You didn't because you can't. I simply stated the fact that several liberal policies promote the negative side of an issue despite what common sense dictates. It applied to your stance on Net Neutrality. Therefore it was completely logical to state it as such. But that might be too difficult for you to comprehend it seems.
The googled definition you pasted isn't what is in the proposed bills. If you can't grasp those two simple concepts then you needn't worry about them anyway, as you likely wouldn't comprehend the negatives. Net Neutrality attempts to pre-empt private ownership (ISPs) by dictating what they can and can't do with their privately owned infrastructure.
And to enlighten you on a little something most idiot libtards can't understand: the internet didn't get where it is magically. It was built, molded, and promoted by those same "evil corporations" with whatever ethereal boogeyman intentions you might imagine in that tiny child-like hippie mind of yours. But don't fret, keep raging against the machine. At some point your sophomoric take on reality might make you relevant to someone. Maybe.
Net Neutrality = "Newsspeak".
You must be logged in to post a comment.