Comcast-NBC Deal Highlights the Lobbying Revolving Door

Last week Comcast and NBC universal agreed to a $30-billion transaction that would give the cable company a controlling stake in the TV and entertainment company. Now the heavy lifting in Washington begins:

Comcast Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts is likely to testify before Congress as the deal undergoes scrutiny in Washington [. . . The deal] is to be vetted by the Federal Communications Commission and either the Justice Department or the Federal Trade Commission.

According to The Hill, Comcast and NBC’s parent company, General Electric, spent a combined 27.6 million dollars in lobbying so far this year. More interesting than the sheer amount they are spending, is who they have hired to work the halls of power for them.

Comcast, the company expected to bear the brunt of the lobbying duties, employs former staffers of Senators on both sides of the aisle currently serving on the Commerce Committee, where hearings on the deal will likely be held. Their lobbyists also have worked for former Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), current Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and House Commerce Committee Chairman emeritus John Dingell (D-MI).

Comcast also recently hired a former FCC staffer and assembled a stable of big name DC lobby shops including “Duberstein Group, DLA Piper, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Gray Loeffler, and Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates” to help push the deal through.