Verizon spent $4.4 million lobbying gov’t in 2nd qtr on distracted driving, other issues

Verizon spent $4.4M on lobbying in 2nd quarter

WASHINGTON — Phone company Verizon Communications Inc. spent $4.44 million in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on a wide array of issues, including cybersecurity, texting while driving and broadband, according to a disclosure report.

The amount was up slightly from the $4.23 million Verizon spent in the same period last year but less than the $4.72 million it spent in the first quarter of 2010.

The figures include spending by Verizon Wireless, which is a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain.

New York-based Verizon lobbied the federal government on legislation involving taxes on phone bills and the smuggling of phones into prisons, among others, according to the report filed on July 20.

Verizon said it lobbied Congress, the White House, the Commerce Department, the Treasury Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service, according to the report filed with the House clerk’s office.

Brian Rice, who worked for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), is among those registered to lobby for Verizon.