AT&T: Reaching

R Out
O and Tou
uching Mem
mbers of Con
ngress

AT&T’s $39 billion bid for T-Mobile USA is under heavvy review byy the Federal
Commun nications Com mmission (FFCC) and thee Departmennt of Justice (DOJ).1 In rresponse, the
telecom giant
g has rammped up its already
a aggrressive lobbyying by rougghly 15%, sppending $6.884
million inn the first qu
uarter of 2011 compared d to $5.93 miillion in the ffirst quarter of 2010.2
AT&T haas also hired d three new firms
f so far this
t year to ssmooth the m mega-merger’s path.3
AT&T’s lobbying an nd campaign contribution wn public scrrutiny, but aanother piecee of
ns have draw
its influence operatio on has flownn below the radar:
r the $1.24 million tthe companyy donated to key
lawmakeers’ favored charities
c bettween 2008 and
a 2010.

In additio
on to contrib ndidates and political acttion committtees (PACs), contributinng to
buting to can
lawmakeers’ charities is another way
w for comp panies to currry favor. P
Previously, CCREW foundd
AT&T ussed this apprroach in Lou uisiana, donaating $250,0000 to a charrity run by G
Governor Bobbby
Jindal’s (R-LA)
( wifee around the same time thhe companyy was seekingg the governnor’s approvaal of
4
legislatio
on.

CREW’ss review of th he company’s contributiions shows A AT&T favorred charities associated w with
powerfull lawmakers and influenttial voting bllocks. Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV V), the chairr of
the Comm mittee on Coommerce, Sccience and Transportatio
T on, which ovversees the F
FCC, is the
biggest inndividual reccipient of ATT&T’s chariitable donatiions.5 Since 2008, the coompany has
donated $165,000
$ in his honor too two charitiees, the Blancchette Rockeefeller Neuroosciences
Institute and the Alzhheimer's Asssociation. The
T top Repuublican recippient of AT& &T’s largessse is
Senate Appropriation
A ns Committeee Ranking Member
M Thaad Cochran ((R-MS). 6 The companyy
donated $65,000
$ in his
h honor, inccluding two $25,000 donnations madde to the Mississippi Statte
Universitty Foundatio on in 2008 an nd 2009.

                                                            
1
Edward Wyatt,
W AT&T and a T-Mobile ChiefsC Field Skkeptical Questi
tions on Capitool Hill, New Yoork Times, Mayy 11,
2011; Mike Zapler, AT& &T Merger Facees Antitrust Hu urdle, Politico,, March 21, 2011.
2
AT&T Seervices, Inc., an nd its affiliatess, First Quarterr 2011 Lobbyinng Disclosure R Report, Secretaary of the Senaate,
Office of Public
P Records; AT&T Servicces, Inc., and itts affiliates, Firrst Quarter 20110 Lobbying D Disclosure Report,
Secretary ofo the Senate, Office
O of Publiic Records.
3
Capitol City
C Group, 201 11 Registration n on behalf of AT&T,
A Secretaary of the Senaate, Office of P
Public Records;
Peck, Mad digan, Jones & Stewart, Inc., 20112 Registrattion on behalf oof AT&T Servvices, Inc., Secrretary of the Seenate,
Office of Public
P Records; TCH Group, LCC, 2011 Reegistration on bbehalf of AT& &T Services, Incc., Secretary off the
Senate, Offfice of Public Records.
R
4
Eric Lipto on, Wife’s Chaarity Offers Co orporate Tie to a Governor, N New York Timess, March 2, 2011;
http://www w.scribd.com/d doc/49891428/JJindal-Foundattion-Investigatiion-CREW-3-33-11.
5
http://rockefeller.senatee.gov/about/com mmittee.cfm; George
G Hohmaann, AT&T Toouts Proposed T T-Mobile Mergger;
Carrier Vaague on how $3 39 Billion Deall Would Expan nd Coverage inn W. VA, Charrleston Daily M Mail, March 244,
2011.
6
http://cocchran.senate.goov/committees.html.
AT&T also donated $415,000 to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and the
Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute (CBCPELI). AT&T’s
assistant vice president of federal relations, Marie Long, chairs the CBCF.7

AT&T’s merger partner, T-Mobile, has contributed to lawmakers’ charities, though to a far
lesser degree than AT&T – 10 donations totaling $85,000 between 2008 and 2010. T-Mobile
made three donations of $10,000 each in 2010, one to the CBCF, one to the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), and one to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation in honor
of Rep. John Lewis (D-GA). Marie R. Sylla-Dixon, chief legislative counsel at T-Mobile, serves
on the board of the CBCF.8 The company made no similar donations in 2009, but in 2008, made
seven donations totaling $55,000 in honor of members of Congress.

Sprint Nextel Corp., the country’s third largest wireless carrier and the merger’s most vocal
opponent, has not reported any donations to lawmakers’ charities.9

Significant AT&T Donations

 $411,589 of AT&T’s contributions honored individual Democratic lawmakers and

$123,092 honored individual Republicans. Altogether, the company made donations in
honor of 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans between 2008 and 2010.
 
 In late 2010, as Republicans gained seats in Congress, AT&T made three donations in
their honor: $5,000 to the Joe Barton Family Foundation in honor of Rep. Joe Barton (R-
TX), $1,000 donation to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society in honor of Rep. Buck
McKeon (R-CA), and $5,000 to the Mississippi Council on Economic Education in honor
of Sen. Cochran.

 AT&T donated $55,000 to the James E. Clyburn Research & Scholarship Foundation in
2009. At the time, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) held the position of House Majority
Whip.10 The foundation reported $463,167 in contributions and grants that year, meaning
AT&T was responsible for 12% of the foundation’s total receipts.11

 Since 2008, the CBCF and CBCPELI combined have received $415,000 in contributions
from AT&T. The CBCF alone received $365,000, making it the largest recipient of
AT&T donations.

 Since 2008, the CHCI and Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) have
received $290,000 from AT&T. Jerry Fuentes, President of AT&T Arizona-New
                                                            
7
http://www.uptownpromag.com/2011/01/65-marie-long/; http://www.cbcfinc.org/about-cbcf/advisory-
council.html#corporate.
8
http://www.cbcfinc.org/about-cbcf/advisory-council.html; http://thehill.com/capital-living/cover-stories/111165-
50-most-beautiful-html-1.
9
Peter Svensson, Sprint to Start Shutdown of Nextel in 2013, Associated Press, December 6, 2010; Wyatt, New
York Times, May 11, 2011.
10
Eric Kleefeld, Clyburn Emerges As Lead Dem Against Joe Wilson, Talking Points Memo, September 15, 2009.
11
The James E. Clyburn Scholarship and Research Foundation, Form 990 for Calendar Year 2009, filed May 11,
2010.

2
 Mexico, serves on CHCI’s board.12 Susan Santana, assistant vice president for external
affairs at AT&T, is a member of CHLI’s board.13

 AT&T’s donations to the CHCI and the CHLI, together with contributions in honor of
CHC members, jumped 62% between 2009 and 2010. Meanwhile, AT&T’s
contributions in honor of the CBCF, CBCPELI and CBC members fell 10% during the
same period.

Methodology

CREW reviewed Lobbying Contribution Reports for 2008 through 2010 filed with the Office of
the Clerk of the House of Representatives, available at:
http://disclosures.house.gov/lc/lcsearch.aspx. CREW totaled all contributions made to nonprofits
in honor of members of Congress.

                                                            
12
http://www.chci.org/about/page/board-of-directors-3;
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=47684721&ticker=T:US&previous
CapId=30773&previousTitle=Levi%20Strauss%20%26%20Co.
13
http://www.chli.org/resource/resmgr/susie_bio.pdf.

3
 AT&T's Contributions to Charities 2008‐2010 
Member of Congress  Charity  Amount 
CBCF Board Members; CBC Members*  Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)  $365,000
CHCI Board Members; CHC Members**  Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)  $245,000
Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute; Alzheimer's 
Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D‐WV)  Association  $165,000
James E. Clyburn Research & Scholarship Foundation; South 
Rep. James E. Clyburn (D‐SC)  Carolina State University Foundation, Inc.  $141,089
Mississippi Council on Economic Education; Mississippi State 
Sen. Thad Cochran (R‐MS)  University Foundation  $65,000
CBCPELI Board Members; CBC  Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership 
Members***  Institute (CBCPELI)  $50,000
CHLI Board Members****  Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI)  $45,000
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D‐MS)  Carib News Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation  $27,500
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D‐HI)  Japanese American Citizens League  $25,000
Rep. Deborah Pryce (R‐OH)  Hope Street Kids  $25,000
Rep. Joe Baca  (D‐CA)  Joe Baca Foundation  $15,000
Rep. Barbara Lee (D‐CA)  National Newspaper Publishers Association  $15,000
Sen. John Ensign (R‐NV)  A Hand Up  $10,000
Rep. John Lewis (D‐GA)  Emory University  $10,000
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R‐KY)  University of Louisville, McConnell Center  $10,000
Rep. Joe Barton (R‐TX)  Joe Barton Family Foundation  $5,000
Rep. Bart Gordon (D‐TN)  U.S. Capitol Historical Society  $5,000
Rep. Maxine Waters (D‐CA)  Missouri Walk of Fame Inc.  $5,000
Rep. Ray LaHood (R‐IL)  Easter Seals UCP  $2,500
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R‐CA)  U.S. Capitol Historical Society  $2,500
Rep. Michael Burgess (R‐TX)  Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce  $2,000
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D‐TX)  ENCORE Program‐ Texas Valley Communities Foundation  $2,000
Rep. Patrick Kennedy  (D‐RI)  Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate  $1,000
Rep. Buck McKeon (R‐CA)  U.S. Capitol Historical Society  $1,000
Rep. Ted Poe (R‐TX)  Beaumont Trophy  $92
Source: Lobbying Contribution Reports for 2008 through 2010 filed with the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 

*AT&T made eight donations to the CBCF between 2008 and 2010 in honor of members of the CBC, board members of the CBCF, and in honor of 
Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D‐NC), Donna Christensen (D‐VI), Danny Davis (D‐IL), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D‐MI),  Barbara Lee (D‐CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D‐TX),  
John Lewis (D‐GA), Kendrick Meek (D‐FL), Gregory Meeks (D‐NY), Donald Payne (D‐NJ), and Mel Watt (D‐NC) . 

**AT&T made seven donations to the CHCI between 2008 and 2010 in honor of members of the CHC, board members of the CHCI, and Reps. Joe Baca 
(D‐CA), Xavier Becerra (D‐CA), Dennis Cardoza (D‐CA), Henry Cuellar (D‐TX), Charlie Gonzalez (D‐TX), Raul Grijalva (D‐AZ), Luis Gutierrez (D‐IL), Ruben 
Hinojosa (D‐TX), Grace Napolitano (D‐CA), Solomon Ortiz (D‐TX), Ed Pastor (D‐AZ), Silvestre Reyes (D‐TX), Ciro Rodriguez (D‐TX), Ileana Ros‐Lehtinen 
(R‐FL), Lucille Roybal‐Allard (D‐CA), John Salazar (D‐CO), Linda Sanchez (D‐CA), Jose Serrano (D‐NY), Albio Sires (D‐NJ), Hilda Solis (D‐CA), Nydia 
Velazquez (D‐NY), and Sen. Bob Menendez (D‐NJ). 
***AT&T made four donations to the CBCPELI between 2008 and 2010 in honor of members of the CBC, board members of the CBCPELI, and in honor 
of the following members: Rep. James Clyburn (D‐SC), Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D‐MI), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D‐MS), and Rep. Mel Watt (D‐NC). 
****AT&T donated to the CHLI on behalf of Reps. Henry Cuellar (D‐TX), Lincoln Diaz‐Balart (R‐FL), Mario Diaz‐Balart (R‐FL), Luis Fortuño (R‐PR), Devin 
Nunes (R‐CA), Pedro Pierluisi (D‐PR), Ileana Ros‐Lehtinen (R‐FL), Albio Sires (D‐NJ), and Sen. Mel Martinez (R‐FL).  

4
 T‐Mobile's Donations to Members' Charities 
Member of Congress  Charity  Amount 
CBC Members*  Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)  $27,500 
CHC Members**  Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)  $10,000 
Rep. John Lewis (D‐GA)  Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation  $10,000 
Rep. Ed Markey (D‐MA)  The Ireland Fund  $10,000 
Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D‐WV)  Washington Bach Consort  $10,000 
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D‐CA)  Children's Defense Fund  $7,500 
Rep. John Boehner (R‐OH)  The Free State Foundation  $5,000 
Rep. Diana DeGette (D‐CO) and 
others***  Horton's Kids  $5,000 
Source: Lobbying Contribution Reports for 2008 through 2010 filed with the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
*T‐Mobile made three donations to the CBCF between 2008 and 2010 in honor of members of the CBC, in honor of Rep. Carolyn 
Kilpatrick (D‐MI), and in honor of Rep. Kendrick Meek (D‐FL). 
**T‐Mobile made one donation to the CHCI between 2008 and 2010 in honor of members of the CHC. 
***The donation was made in honor of Rep. DeGette as the “honorary host” for Horton’s Kids, as well as in honor of Reps. Michael 
Arcuri (D‐NY), Brian Baird (D‐WA), Al Green (D‐TX), Jane Harman (D‐CA), Darlene Hooley (D‐OR), Doris Matsui (D‐CA), Frank Pallone 
(D‐NJ), Ed Perlmutter (D‐CO), John Salazar (D‐CO), Edolphus Towns (D‐NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D‐FL) and Henry Waxman (D‐
CA).