Find out how much the CEOs of telecom lobbying groups like CTIA earn
WASHINGTON – The publicly released 2013 tax filings for some of the nation’s biggest telecom lobbying groups detail high-end executive salaries and impressive revenue.
Leading the pack was the National Cable & Telecommunications Association with total revenue of $70.9 million, $61.4 million from membership contributions and $7.6 million from events.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, NCTA put a good portion of that money to work spending a grand total of $19.8 million on lobbying in 2013, $5 million of which was spent on hiring outside counsel.
A sizeable portion of NCTA revenue was spent on executive compensation with NCTA Director Michael Powell being paid $3.1 million for his services, making Powell one of the best-paid heads of a telecom trade association in Washington.
The next closest earner to Powell was then-CTIA director Steve Largent who was earning $1.6 million for his services.
CTIA, which usually leads in revenue among telecom trade groups, saw a sharp decline in its revenue for 2013 taking in $60 million, down almost $20 million from 2012 when the trade group reported $81 million in revenue.
CTIA said in a statement that the decline was due to “the $17.4 million realized gain on the purchase of RCC (building) and $2.3 million unrealized gain on marketable securities.”
On the revenue side, a CTIA spokesman explained, “Revenues for [fiscal-year 2013] included membership dues of $11.6 million, the annual convention of $12.3 million and investment income of $2.3 million.” CTIA spent about $11 million on lobbying.
The smaller, niche Wi-Fi Alliance took in $15 million in 2013.
The Competitive Carriers Association, the advocate for wireless companies outside the AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless duopoly, took in $5 million with CEO Steven K. Berry getting $611,000 for his services. CCA declined to elaborate on the intricacies of its financial dealings.
The smallest telecom trade group in Washington was without a doubt the American Cable Association which employed nine full-time staff, brought in $4 million in revenue and paid its director, Matthew Polka, $255,000 for his services.
