Why it matters

American Tower Corp, a major telecommunications infrastructure company, has dramatically intensified its lobbying efforts with a staggering 386% increase compared to the previous quarter. The surge reflects growing urgency around permitting reform for communications facilities and broadband deployment as 5G expansion continues nationwide. Year-over-year, this represents the company’s most aggressive quarterly lobbying push in recent history.

By the numbers

  • $2,295,000: Total Q1 2025 lobbying expenditure
  • $2,150,000: In-house lobbying (up from $340,000 last quarter)
  • $80,000: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (telecom issues, broadband access)
  • $50,000: Capitol Tax Partners (REIT taxation)
  • $15,000: Kearney Donovan & McGee (telecom tower real estate, NTIA, global trade)

The company’s lobbying team combines specialized external firms with its substantial in-house operation. Capitol Tax Partners exclusively handles complex REIT tax issues, while Brownstein and Kearney Donovan target specific regulatory areas affecting tower deployment and operations.

The agenda

American Tower’s primary focus is accelerating the American Broadband Deployment Act (H.R. 3557), which aims to streamline permitting processes for communications facilities. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter of Georgia, was reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee in October 2023.

Beyond this specific legislation, the company is lobbying on broader issues affecting its business model:

  • NTIA broadband funding programs
  • International and domestic tax provisions affecting REITs
  • 5G and wireless communications deployment
  • Global telecommunications policy and trade issues
  • Corporate disclosure requirements

Between the lines

The extraordinary increase in lobbying expenditure signals American Tower’s growing concerns about regulatory hurdles to infrastructure deployment. As a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that owns and operates thousands of communications towers, being able to streamline permitting directly impacts their bottom line.

They’re not alone in pushing H.R. 3557 – the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, NCTA, Charter Communications, and T-Mobile are also lobbying for the bill. This coalition of tower companies, carriers, and trade associations reflects industry-wide frustration with the current permitting regime.

While the bill advanced out of committee last year, the significant lobbying push suggests American Tower sees a potential opening to move it forward, possibly attaching it to must-pass legislation.

Bottom line

American Tower’s unprecedented lobbying surge represents a calculated bet that now is the time to push for regulatory relief that would accelerate infrastructure deployment. With 5G expansion continuing and broadband funding flowing from recent infrastructure legislation, the company is positioning itself to capitalize on these opportunities by removing perceived regulatory roadblocks.

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