ALBANY – AT&T and its lobbyist agreed to pay a $200,000 fine yesterday after the state charged the telecommunications giant secretly financed an advertising campaign in violation of lobbying laws.
The fine, part of a settlement between AT&T and the state Lobbying Commission, is the second largest paid for a lobbying violation in state history, behind only the $250,000 imposed two years ago on Donald Trump.
The Post first reported in August that AT&T was under investigation for setting up a bogus advocacy group to run newspaper and TV ads calling on regulators to lower the rates Verizon charges competitors for access to its lines.
The commission says the organization, New York Consumers for Economic Competition, was funded solely by AT&T and spent $367,000 on the ads that ran in January and February.
But AT&T did not, as required by law, report its involvement in the group, the commission said.
In settling the case, AT&T and the group agreed to shell out a combined $195,000. The company’s lobbyist, Gallagher and Company, will pay the other $5,000.