WASHINGTON (AP) — DirecTV Group Inc., the nation's largest satellite TV company, spent $1.3 million in the third quarter to lobby the federal government on reform of the regulations governing fee disputes between distributors and broadcast network operators, among other issues, according to a disclosure report.
That's up 33 percent from the $950,000 that DirecTV spent in the year-ago period, and 8 percent more than the $1.2 million it spent in the second quarter of 2011.
In the July to September period, DirecTV company also lobbied the federal government on legislation involving the availability of set-top boxes, according to the report filed on Oct. 20 with the House clerk's office.
DirecTV is competing with satellite rival Dish Network Corp., but also with Internet video providers who can stream movies and TV shows to Web-connected televisions. Its key weapon in the war is its NFL Sunday Ticket, a package of out-of-market games that draws in many subscribers.
The company lobbied Congress in the third quarter, according to the report filed with the House clerk's office. Susan Eid, who previously served as a legal adviser to the former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell, is among those registered to lobby for DirecTV.
