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Which telecom companies are pulling the strings in your state government? Find out which telecommunications companies are spending the most on lobbying and campaign contributions. Learn about your public utility boards, where they are located and how to file a complaint. Also, view the personal financial disclosure statements of board members and learn how much they earn.

Regulatory Commission of Alaska
701 West Eighth Avenue, Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99501-3469
(800) 390-2782
http://www.state.ak.us/apuc/

How to file a complaint
Email: cp_mail@rca.state.ak.us

Jurisdiction: regulates the rates, services, and practices of most companies providing telephone, electric, gas, water, sewer, garbage, or steam services; public utilities and pipeline carriers
Funding: assessment on the revenues of regulated utilities/pipeline carriers, passed through as surcharge billed to consumers/shippers
Commissioners: 5
  Appointed by: Governor
  Term: 6 years
  Annual Salary: $75,036
Chairperson: Elected by Commissioners
  Term: 2 years
  Annual Salary: $77,808
Commissioners

Kate Giard (Chair)
Term: 2003-2007
Financial Disclosure:  2004 

Dave Harbour
Term: 2003-2009
Financial Disclosure:  2003  2004 

Mark Johnson
Term: 2003-2009
Financial Disclosure:  2003  2004 

Anthony Price
Term: 2004-2010
Financial Disclosure:  2004 

James Strandberg
Term: 1999-2006
Financial Disclosure:  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 

Alaska Receives C for Disclosure of Utility Commissioner Outside Ties
Alaska ranked 5th in the nation for making basic information on state legislators' income, assets and potential conflicts of interest available to the public. Alaska received 79 out of a possible 100 points.
See Report Card

Alaska Conflict-of-Interest Provision: "A member of the commission or an employee of the commission may not have an official connection with, hold stock or securities in, or have a pecuniary interest in a public utility or pipeline carrier within the state." (Alaska Statutes ยง 42.04.060(a))

Telecommunications Industry

State Campaign Donations

Telecommunications industry donations, including legislative and statewide, throughout three election cycles, 1999-2000, 2001-2002 and 2003-2004. Click on total to see how this state stacks up:
Cycle Amount
2003-2004 $195,567
2001-2002 $335,486
1999-2000 $178,956
Total $710,008

Telecommunications interests donating $10,000 or more to state races, including legislative and statewide, throughout six years, from 1999 to 2004:
Name Total
General Communication Inc $262,263
Alaska Communications Systems $250,938
TelAlaska Inc. $47,450
Citizens for Competition $35,000
US Telecom. Assn. and state orgs. $32,500
New Horizons Technology $14,800
Woodside Telecommunications $10,000

Source: Institute on Money in State Politics, with analysis by Center for Public Integrity
State Lobby Spending

State-level lobbying by telecommunications companies in 2003 and 2004. Click on the total to see how the states stack up:
Year Amount
2003 $423,794
2004 $458,389
Total $882,183

Major telecommunications interests lobbying government in this state in 2003 and 2004:
Name Total
AK Communications Systems $326,943
AT&T Corp. $198,005
TelAlaska $120,564
Matanuska Telephone Association $106,006
US Telecom. Assn. and state orgs. $100,434
Dobson Celluar Systems $30,231

Source: Source: Center for Public Integrity analysis of state records