TechAmerica spent $378,000 in fourth quarter to lobby on trade, tax issues, stimulus bill

TechAmerica spent $378,000 in 4Q lobbying

WASHINGTON — The Technology Association of America spent $378,000 in the fourth quarter of 2009 to lobby the federal government on a long list of trade agreements, last year’s economic stimulus bill and other issues, according to a quarterly disclosure report.

That’s up slightly from $358,000 in the third quarter.

TechAmerica, as the group calls itself, represents nearly 1,500 companies from across the technology industry. Members include Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., Apple Inc., Google Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. The group was formed in January 2009 through the merger of AeA, formerly known as the American Electronics Association, and the Information Technology Association of America.

Other issues that TechAmerica lobbied on last quarter include Internet taxation and other tax rules, cybersecurity and data breach legislation, efforts to free up more wireless spectrum for mobile broadband services and a bill to rewrite the nation’s patent laws, according to the report filed with the House clerk’s office on Jan. 20.

TechAmerica lobbied Congress, the White House, the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department, among other government agencies, during the October-to-December period.