"When 15 Latino groups sent a letter to top Senate Commerce Committee lawmakers urging video-franchising relief for the Bell telecommunications firms, the appeal appeared to be on behalf of Hispanic Americans," writes David Hatch. "But critics said the letter also was on behalf of the Bell firms AT&T and Verizon Communications, which have financial and business ties to many of the signatories. ... Among the signers was the National Hispanic Media Coalition, which became a client of the Washington-based lobbying firm Mickey Ibarra and Associates [3] on Feb. 23. Ibarra is a registered lobbyist for Verizon and Consumers for Cable Choice, which is funded partly by Bell companies."