Motorola Mobility spent $450K to lobby in 3Q

December 12, 2011

The cellphone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. spent $450,000 in the third quarter to lobby the federal government on spectrum allocation, the patent system and other issues, according to a disclosure report.

That’s up slightly from the $440,000 it spent during the second quarter, but it’s 48 percent less than the $870,000 the company spent in 2010’s third quarter.

Motorola Mobility split off from the old Motorola Inc. in January. The Justice Department is still reviewing Google Inc.’s proposed $12.5 billion takeover of the company.

Wireless companies have been seeking access to more airwaves to offer services. Motorola Mobility stands to benefit because more spectrum could boost demand for wireless devices like the ones it sells.

Motorola also lobbied on copyright protections and on a proposal to require that all new cellphones come with a built-in FM radio chip. It also lobbied on energy usage of cable set-top boxes, another of its products.

According to the report filed on Oct. 20 with the House clerk’s office, the company lobbied Congress and the Federal Communications Commission during the quarter.