Politico says that the NAACP, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the National Education Association -- all organizations with no direct interest in a telecom takeover -- have voiced support of the deal in recent weeks. The groups deny that the support came as a result of donations from AT&T, and the company also denies using cash to influence the organizations.
In the NAACP’s case, the group received a $1 million contribution from AT&T in 2009. The NAACP wrote the FCC to support the deal. GLAAD, which got $50,000 from AT&T, also backed the deal, even though it had criticized Comcast’s merger with NBC.
The Columbia Urban League also received a $25,000 grant from the AT&T foundation in 2009. That group’s president and CEO, James McLawhorn, wrote the FCC urging it to OK the deal.