It is no secret that telcos spend millions of dollars to lobby politicians in CA nor is it a secret that it works with Gov. Schwarzenegger. Most of the media coverage has been about the influence lobbyists have on cable bills in the state but this recent article takes a look at the influence that telcos with cell phone divisions have had on state legislation. Their influence is due in no small part to the amount of money they have funneled in to Schwarzenegger’s campaign.


Those abuses include the difficulties and costs of getting out of cell phone contracts; (we know the lengths some go to to get out of their contracts). Specifically cited is the case of SB 831, a consumer-friendly measure proposed earlier this year by Sen. Alan Lowenthal. The legislation would have allowed for a 30-day contract cancellation policy as well as other means of making it easier to cancel contracts. It is reported that the bill had significant support but died, perhaps due to the $50,000 donated by AT&T to make that happen.