Eric Brantner / Via Self-created

Like any other special interest group, Big Cable is using dollars to try and win support in the government. A little over 6 months ago, a report was released stating that Comcast and other telecoms had spent over $88 million on lobbying in 2015 (Comcast spent the most, with the newly named NCTA-The Internet & Television Association spending at a close second).

It’s not surprising, really. After all, the Comcast and the rest of the cable companies are in an uproar after the FCC released its new proposal requiring cable companies to build their own apps that would do away with the need to rent cable boxes. Big Cable will do anything within its power to gain influence as it struggles to keep its grasp on the television industry.

Of course, big changes are forthcoming, as each party has chosen its respective candidate and the race for the White House is in full force. So it seems logical to question where those lobbying dollars are going now. Who does Big Cable think will have its best interests at heart going into 2017?

To answer the question, I turned to OpenSecrets.org, a site that collects data on lobbying monies in the United States. This is the source CutCableToday used in its original report. According to the data collected so far this election cycle, telecoms have spent $662,000 so far this year lobbying the four presidential candidates (Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Jill Stein, and Gary Johnson). Here’s the breakdown of where the money has gone: