Well Connected

In Your State - Alabama Click to select a state

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.

Alabama Public Service Commission
P.O. Box 304260
100 N. Union St.,RSA Union, Suite 850
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-5180

How to file a complaint
Toll Free: 1-800-392-8050
Online

Jurisdiction: Privately owned companies providing electric, gas, water, and telecommunications services, including both long distance and local telephone service providers, plus railroads, buses and some trucking and taxi companies
Funding: solely from inspection and supervision fees received from the companies regulated, as appropriated by the Legislature
Commissioners: 3
  Elected by: statewide
  Term: 4 years
  Annual Salary: $81,014
Chairperson: Elected statewide
  Term: 4 years
  Annual Salary: $86,801
Commissioners

Jim Sullivan (Chair)
Term: 1983-2008
Financial Disclosure:  2001  2002  2003  2004 

George Wallace, Jr.
Term: 1998-2006
Financial Disclosure:  2001  2002  2003  2004 

Jan Cook
Term: 1990-2006
Financial Disclosure:  2001  2002  2003  2004 

Alabama Receives C for Disclosure of Utility Commissioner Outside Ties
Alabama ranked 7th in the nation for making basic information on state legislators' income, assets and potential conflicts of interest available to the public. Alabama received 77.5 out of a possible 100 points.
See Report Card

Alabama Conflict-of-Interest Provision: "No person owning any stock in any utility, or in the employment of any utility or pecuniarily interested in any utility, … shall be eligible to the office of public service commissioner." (Code of Alabama § 37-1-6)


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 $8,680
2001-2002 $499,238
1999-2000 $3,425
Total $511,344

Telecommunications interests donating $10,000 or more to state races, including legislative and statewide, throughout six years, from 1999 to 2004:
Name Total
BellSouth Corp. $354,811
Masada Corp. $77,000
Communication Associates Inc $22,000
National Cable and Telecom. Assn. and state orgs. $20,500

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

State Lobby Spending

Totals in this state DO NOT include lobbyist salaries/compensation. Lobbyists only required to report spending when it amounts to more than $250 in a 24-hour-period. All lobbyists reported zero spending. Employers not required to report spending and compensation/salary is not reported.

State-level lobbying by telecommunications companies in 2003 and 2004. Click on the total to see how the states stack up:
Year Amount
2003 $0
2004 $0
Total $0

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