Telecom giants and campaign cash

Top telecom companies are hoping their early investments in the freshman congressional class of 2011 will pay much-sought dividends in the form of new Washington allies. Political action committees for big players like AT&T and Verizon each wrote a number of campaign checks this election season to neophyte political candidates — sometimes, even to opponents in the same race — as they sought to strengthen their political hands as hot debates over issues like network neutrality begin to intensify.

Roughly one-third of newcomers this year can boast a contribution from either or both telecom giants. By contrast, other industry players spent far less on political newcomers this year. Google, for example, supported new, victorious 2010 candidates, but each already boasted some political experience. Many others, including Comcast, instead focused their attention on key veterans and big-ticket Senate candidates.