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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.

Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
1300 Evergreen Park Dr. SW
P.O. Box 47250
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 664-1160
http://www.wutc.wa.gov/

How to file a complaint
Online

Jurisdiction: electricity, gas, telecom, water, solid waste, pipelines, transportation
Funding: fees assessed on the revenues of regulated companies
Commissioners: 3
  Appointed by: Governor
  Term: 6 years
  Annual Salary: $103,500
Chairperson: Appointed by Governor
  Term: at governor's pleasure
  Annual Salary: $115,000
Commissioners

Mark Sidran (Chair)
Term: 2005-2009

Philip Jones
Term: 2005-2011

Patrick Oshie
Term: 2001-2007
Financial Disclosure:  2001  2002  2003  2004 

Washington Receives A for Disclosure of Utility Commissioner Outside Ties
Washington ranked 1st in the nation for making basic information on state legislators' income, assets and potential conflicts of interest available to the public. Washington received 92.5 out of a possible 100 points.
See Report Card

Washington Conflict-of-Interest Provision: "No person in the employ of or holding any official relation to any corporation or person, which corporation or person is subject in whole or in part to regulation by the commission, and no person owning stocks or bonds of any such corporation or who is in any manner pecuniarily interested therein shall be appointed or hold the office of commissioner or be appointed or employed by the commission." (Revised Code of Washington ยง 80.01.020)

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 $680,979
2001-2002 $447,189
1999-2000 $759,719
Total $1,887,887

Telecommunications interests donating $10,000 or more to state races, including legislative and statewide, throughout six years, from 1999 to 2004:
Name Total
Western Wireless Corp. $476,825
AT&T Corp. $380,276
Qwest Communications International Inc. $268,469
AT&T Wireless Services Inc. $205,523
Verizon Communications Inc. $154,136
MCI (formerly WorldCom Inc.) $63,975
Sprint Corp. $62,820
National Cable and Telecom. Assn. and state orgs. $53,000
Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance $50,875
Newcom Wireless Services $40,750

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 $782,460
2004 $734,506
Total $1,516,966

Major telecommunications interests lobbying government in this state in 2003 and 2004:
Name Total
Qwest Communications International Inc. $282,501
AT&T Corp. $231,415
National Cable and Telecom. Assn. and state orgs $175,714
Verizon Communications Inc. $166,412
MCI (formerly WorldCom Inc.) $127,247
Cingular Wireless $118,341
US Telecom. Assn. and state orgs. $112,865
Comcast Corp. $95,139
Deutsche Telekom AG (T-Mobile USA) $94,322
Nextel Communications $55,738

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