Thread by @ppolitics

It's hard to overstate how dominant Comcast's power is in preserving its monopoly profits. The telco and NCTA trade association give a ton to lawmakers, lobbies policymakers federally and in states.

Comcast execs are max'ing out to @JoeBiden. New @Sludge: readsludge.com/2020/01/29/msn…

@JoeBiden @Sludge the top-line numbers tell the story: in 2018, $CMCSA revenue from Internet alone was $17.14 billion, an increase of 9.3% over 2017, out of $55.14 billion total revenue on capital expenditures of $9.75 billion. Its overall earnings for the year increased 25.6% from 2017. Monopoly!

@JoeBiden @Sludge @ComcastPolicy @ComcastNewsmkrs Comcast was the highest-lobbying telecom company, the second-highest-lobbying telco group behind its NCTA trade association, and the 15th-largest lobbying group overall last year. In 2017, when Ajit Pai's FCC repealed #netneutrality, they sought cover in a well-paid GOP Congress.

@JoeBiden @Sludge @ComcastPolicy @ComcastNewsmkrs @verge @OpenSecretsDC in 2014, when Comcast pursued its (failed) bid to take over TimeWarner Cable, Politico noted how the behemoth had strategically donated to nearly all of the congresspeople on committees reviewing the mega-deal. Quote in here from Sunlight, how about that.
politico.com/story/2014/03/…

@JoeBiden @Sludge @ComcastPolicy @ComcastNewsmkrs @verge @OpenSecretsDC again, the source of Comcast's lavish influence expenditures is revenue from its monopoly services. In Europe, w/ greater competition, cable modem ISP might run $15 / mo., as opposed to the $60-70 average in the U.S. Stock dividends from customer capture.
theverge.com/2015/4/1/83214…

@JoeBiden @Sludge @ComcastPolicy @ComcastNewsmkrs @verge @OpenSecretsDC shortly before FCC repealed #netneutrality in Dec. '17, Prof. Susan Crawford wrote on telcos: "Remember, where Comcast provides service it is usually the only high-capacity option...Comcast faces competition from fiber in at most a third of its footprint."
wired.com/story/net-neut…