With more than 630 lobbyists nationwide, the telecom industry spent over $100 million in 2019 to advance their business interests. In Virginia, the telecom industry counts among the largest campaign donors, totaling nearly $8 million in the 2018/19 electoral cycle. This largesse certainly facilitated getting a number of its representatives placed on the state’s Broadband Advisory Council, which oversees grant application reviews. Virginia is one of 19 states with laws designed to shield the biggest internet service providers from competition.
Legislation banning campaign contributions by telecoms (and other public service corporations like Dominion Energy), introduced by Delegate Ibrahim Samirah and Senator Chap Petersen, did not get a vote in the House and the Senate voted the bill down 10-6, the same result as last year. Senators who voted against the bill collectively received $60k in campaign contributions from the major telecoms during the 2018/19 electoral cycle, according to VPAP. Delegate Samirah said “the bill would have gone a long way to remove the harmful influence of public service telecoms, open up competition by leveling the playing field for local broadband authorities, and promote consideration of lower cost options.”