# Headwaters Strategies — Client Network Analysis
# Source: Colorado Professional Lobbyist Bills Dataset (sche-yqzf)
# Data as of: March 13, 2026
# Pulled: March 14, 2026

## Summary

Headwaters Strategies is Meta Platforms' registered lobbying firm in Colorado.
They have **101 unique clients** across 5,000+ lobbying records dating back to 2009.

## Meta's Lobbying Through Headwaters

- **Client names used:** "Facebook" (2020-2021), "Meta Platforms, Inc" (2022-present)
- **Active lobbyists for Meta:**
  - William C. Coyne
  - Adam Eichberg
  - Alyson Schmidt
  - Amber Janelle Burkhart
  - Ana Martinez (earlier, possibly in-house)
- **19 bills lobbied** across 4 fiscal years (2022-2026)
- **Pattern:** Almost always starts "Monitoring," shifts to "Amending"
- **On SB26-051:** Still at "Monitoring" as of March 2026

## Key Observations

### 1. Meta's "Monitoring" Position on SB26-051 is Strategic
While Meta officially "monitors" SB26-051, the industry coalition is doing the
active amending work:
- Colorado Technology Association (Sewald Hanfling) — Amending
- Colorado Chamber of Commerce — Amending
- TechNet (Colorado Legislative Strategies) — Monitoring
- Apple — Amending
- MPAA — Opposing
- Comcast — Amending

Meta stays clean while allies push amendments. This is consistent with Meta's
documented strategy of operating through intermediary organizations.

### 2. Front Groups Are NOT Registered in Colorado
None of Meta's known astroturf/front organizations appear in CO lobbying records:
- Digital Childhood Alliance (DCA) — NOT REGISTERED
- American Technology Excellence Project (ATEP) — NOT REGISTERED
- Coalition for Competitive Mobile Experience (CCME) — NOT REGISTERED
- ConnectSafely — NOT REGISTERED
- Americans for a Safe & Accessible America (ASAA) — NOT REGISTERED
- Casey Stefanski — NOT FOUND as lobbyist
- Melissa McKay — NOT FOUND as lobbyist

This raises questions:
- Are these entities operating in Colorado below the registration threshold?
- Are they providing testimony without triggering lobbying registration requirements?
- Is their influence channeled through other registered entities?

### 3. Shared Lobbying Firms on SB26-051
Firms representing multiple clients on the same bill — potential coordination:
- **Sewald Hanfling:** Colorado Technology Association + Roblox (both Amending)
- **Colorado Legislative Strategies:** Stride Inc. + TechNet
- **The Capstone Group:** Apple Inc + The Kempe Foundation
- **HB Strategies:** MPAA (6 different name spellings, all same entity)

### 4. Headwaters Notable Other Clients
Some Headwaters clients that may be relevant to Meta's broader strategy:
- **Airbnb** — Fellow big tech company, similar regulatory interests
- **Charter Communications** — Telecom, 50+ bills, overlapping internet regulation interests
- **Tesla Motors** — 72 bills, tech industry regulatory alignment
- **Colorado Trial Lawyers Association** — 344+ bills, massive lobbying presence
- **People United for Privacy** — Privacy advocacy (SB24-129) — alignment with Meta's privacy framing

## Data Files
- `meta_platforms_co_lobbying.csv` — All Meta Platforms lobbying records
- `facebook_co_lobbying.csv` — Historical Facebook lobbying records
- `sb26-051_lobbyists.csv` — All entities lobbying on SB26-051