Microsoft spent more than $2.3M to lobby in 2Q

The software giant lobbied on competition in the online advertising market and the company's proposed acquisition of Yahoo Inc. in an attempt to compete with Google Inc. Yahoo has rejected Microsoft's $47.5 billion buyout offer and instead embraced an agreement that will allow Google to sell some of the ads displayed alongside search results on Yahoo's Web site.

Microsoft also lobbied on proposals to map the availability of high-speed Internet connections and those that would allow the use of "white spaces"--the currently unused spectrum between television channels--to deliver wireless broadband access.

In addition, the Redmond, Wash.-based company lobbied on bills to crack down on spyware and phishing. Spyware programs are computer programs that can surreptitiously access hard drives to track online behavior and steal sensitive personal data, while phishing scams use fake e-mails and fraudulent Web sites to trick consumers into releasing credit card numbers and other personal information.

Other issues Microsoft lobbied on included: H-1B visas, immigration reform, and efforts to promote education in science, technology, engineering and math. The company also lobbied on legislation dealing with copyright and intellectual property protection, and measures to protect children from online predators.

Besides Congress, Microsoft lobbied the departments of Commerce, Justice and Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and other agencies, according to an amended disclosure form filed July 21 with the Senate's clerk office.

Among the people registered to lobby for the company was Bill Kamela, a former staffer on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.