Comcast donated $297,778.27 to Utah elected officials

Comcast Corporation located in Philadelphia PA, donated a total of

 $297, 778.27 to Utah legislators, elected officials and PACS between the years 2008 and 2011.  

      

Are there any bills this 2012 session this money may apply to?  Senate Bill 112 relating to cable and satellite TV subscribers died in the senate last week.  At least the bill made it out of committee and to a senate vote.

Comcast Corporation    Philadelphia PA       2011           $59,853.27

Comcast Corporation    Philadelphia PA       2010            $62,300.00

Comcast Corporation    Philadelphia PA       2009           $62,025.00

Comcast Corporation    Philadelphia PA       2008         $113,600.00

                                    Total                                          $297,778.27


SB 116 le.utah.gov
SB 112 would have provided a rebate to make up the difference in Satellite companies being exempted by Congress from paying local franchise fees, while Cable companies are not.
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"Comcast, the state’s largest cable company, contributed nearly $60,000 to legislators’ campaign accounts last year. The Utah Cable Telecommunications Association gave another $15,500 to lawmakers."

"Satellite companies have been exempted by Congress from paying local franchise fees. Cable companies have not, meaning cable subscribers pay an additional fee of about $3 or $4 a month to their city or town.

SB112, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, would provide a rebate to those customers to offset the tax. But it would have cost the state $6.7 million a year to offset the tax cut without taking the money from local governments."  Robert Gehrke

Salt Lake Tribune


"Under state law cable TV subscribers could end up paying a higher tax rate on their TV bill than satellite users depending on the taxes levied by their local government. Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, was looking to level the tax issued by the two different TV distribution methods, but that proposal was met with opposition on Tuesday."
Billy Hesterman  Herald Extra.com