Why It Matters

AT&T Services Inc. faces a critical window where federal policy decisions will shape its infrastructure investment economics and competitive positioning for the next decade. The company’s lobbying push targets three interconnected challenges: maximizing returns on federal broadband grants threatened by unexpected tax consequences, securing additional spectrum beyond congressional allocations to support 5G capacity, and navigating cybersecurity mandates following the Salt Typhoon attack.

By the Numbers

AT&T Services Inc. spent $2.54 million on in-house lobbying in Q3 2025, deploying an 11-member team. This reflects AT&T’s status as a lobbying powerhouse with 78 in-house disclosures filed since 2003, totaling over $284 million across more than two decades.

AT&T’s strategy leverages an 11-member in-house team stacked with former senior congressional staffers from key committees, including the Energy and Commerce Committee (which oversees telecom) and the Ways and Means Committee (which handles taxes), allowing the company to navigate both technical policy details and broader political calculus as decisions on billions in infrastructure spending are finalized.
The team includes:

  • James E. Robertson brings 12.5 years of House experience, including senior Energy and Commerce Committee roles
  • Noah W. Jacobson served over 10 years as Legislative Director for Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), a former Ways and Means Committee member
  • Lin Whitehouse spent nearly 11 years as Legislative Assistant for Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC)

This quarter’s in-house-only approach suggests AT&T is confident its internal team can manage current legislative priorities without external support.

The Agenda

AT&T’s Q3 2025 priorities center on telecommunications policy—particularly spectrum availability, broadband deployment permitting, and network security—alongside corporate tax policy and digital piracy.

On telecommunications, AT&T is engaged on spectrum bills including the Spectrum Pipeline Act (HR 651) and broadband permitting legislation like the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act (S 866).

On taxation, AT&T is pushing the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (S 674/HR 1873) to ensure federal broadband grants aren’t treated as taxable income.

Broader Context

The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program faces major restructuring, with the Commerce Department abandoning fiber-only requirements and shifting toward lowest-cost bidders—creating new competitive pressures. Major carriers including AT&T are aggressively lobbying the FCC for significantly more mid-band spectrum than Congress originally allocated.

A critical tax issue threatens grant economics: unintended tax law consequences are treating broadband deployment grants as taxable income, potentially clawing back 20-30% of BEAD funding.

The Salt Typhoon Chinese cyberattack on major telecommunications companies has elevated network security mandates, while the FCC is restricting Chinese-made equipment.

Between The Lines

Broadband Deployment: Bipartisan frustration is mounting over BEAD implementation delays. Senator Todd Young called for removing labor regulations, while Congress advances permitting reform through the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act.

Spectrum Availability: Congressional hearings highlighted urgent need to reauthorize the FCC’s expired spectrum auction authority. AT&T is lobbying on HR 651 to secure additional licensed spectrum.

Tax Treatment: Senator Jerry Moran is exploring legislative paths to prevent taxation of broadband grants through the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act.

Competitive Landscape

AT&T competes alongside major industry peers on similar legislative priorities. Comcast Corp. and Cox Enterprises Inc. are actively lobbying on spectrum policy, broadband deployment, and taxation—mirroring AT&T’s agenda. Cox spent $600,000 on lobbying in Q3 2025 alone.

Two of AT&T’s current lobbyists—Jeremy Pederson and Marc Gonzales—previously represented the U.S. Telecom Association, illustrating the revolving door between company and industry group advocacy.

The Bottom Line

AT&T’s $2.54 million Q3 lobbying investment positions the company strategically on issues directly affecting its infrastructure investments and regulatory environment. With veteran congressional staffers focused on telecommunications infrastructure, corporate taxation, and intellectual property protection, AT&T is well-positioned to influence ongoing debates over broadband permitting reform, spectrum pipeline legislation, and BEAD program grant taxation—even as it faces competitive pressure from peers like Comcast and Cox Enterprises.

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