BATTLE TESTED.

ISSUE ADVOCACY

ON POINT

For more than 10 years, we have led the industry in issue advocacy utilizing unique communication strategies that take our clients to the top. We know the landscape, we know the history, we are ever changing to keep up with emerging technologies, all while using our expertise and experience to craft unique communications plans that help you win.

Below is a sampling of some of our successes over the years.

CASE STUDIES

THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION

The Everglades Foundation — Expediting the EAA Reservoir to Store, Clean & Send Water South

GOAL: Pass legislation to expedite the EAA Reservoir
SUCCESS: Legislation to expedite the EAA Reservoir signed into law

As an integral part of The Everglades Foundation’s communications team for more than 7 years, BCC was instrumental in the development and execution of the full-scale advocacy campaign in support of Senate Bill 10, which included, but was not limited to, paid, earned and digital media; message development; collateral materials; rapid response; public affairs events; bookending committee meetings and important events; third-party coordination and outreach;
and grassroots activities. Ultimately, SB 10 successfully passed with bipartisan support in both the Florida House and Senate and was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott.

The advocacy campaign was successful in not only uniting voices across the state together to form one in support of expediting the EAA Reservoir, but it was also adept at making changes at a moment’s notice, in order to adjust to the changing political environment and temperature. As a contentious issue, SB 10 was a changing piece of legislation with multiple compromises happening throughout the legislative session. As such, BCC was quick to adjust messaging, collateral material, and digital and paid media efforts, as well as rapidly pivot earned media strategies in order for The Foundation to be the first to reach out to Capitol Press Corps members, covering reporters and editorial boards when the legislation changed.

 

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines — Bringing the Jet Fuel Tax in for a Landing

GOAL: Pass Jet Fuel Tax Proposal to create a level playing field among Florida’s airline carriers
SUCCESS: Jet Fuel Tax Proposal signed into law by Governor Scott

The Jet Fuel Tax Proposal, a proposal to eliminate an unfair tax refund policy to ensure parity among Florida’s airline carriers by instituting a fair tax rate for all jet fuel carriers who utilize Florida’s aviation infrastructure, was brought in for a landing with BCC running point on communications and PR for the effort on behalf of Delta Air Lines.

By implementing and utilizing a strategic communications plan that was nimble enough to adjust to changing legislative conditions, BCC was successful in positioning the Jet Fuel Tax Proposal as a needed measure to stop government from picking winners and losers in the marketplace through an unequal tax policy. BCC assisted the government relations team in framing the message and ensuring it was flexible enough to change but still be successful, as the legislation was brokered through the process, in order to get it to the finish line, as well as monitored for media coverage to insert the positive message about the Jet Fuel Tax Proposal and combat any misinformation. BCC also created educational collateral materials to help the government relations team in articulating the positive effect that eliminating an outdated tax exemption would have on the industry as a whole.

In the end, the Jet Fuel Tax Proposal was included in the tax package, which was passed by the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott.

Links:

Jet fuel tax changes set to become law July 1, barring unlikely veto |  FloridaPolitics

Jet fuel tax proposal rerouted to House tax package, future uncertain |  FloridaPolitics

Dosal Tobacco Corporation

 

Dosal Tobacco Corporation: Tobacco Tax Fight

GOAL: Fight out-of-state special interest tax
SUCCESS: Governor and House and Senate Leadership took position against tax increase

The BCC team has served as communications consultants for the Dosal Tobacco Corporation, as well as lead communications advisors to the legislative effort for more than a decade. Each year, the communications and lobbying team fights the threat from Big Tobacco to single out this one company
with a tax increase.

In its fiercest battle to date, the BCC team had to think quick on our feet and plan a public affairs event that would make enough noise within the Capitol and result in a reverse stance from members of legislative leadership. Going above and beyond the traditional PR strategies, Bascom Communications was able to – within a 24-hour timeframe – devise and execute a 200-person rally at The Capitol. By the close of that session, House and Senate leadership had taken a position of support for the company, citing the activation and approach from the Dosal company and its employees.

Since then, Dosal has found itself in the crosshairs by these same out-of-state interests wanting to do away with Dosal and take Florida jobs out of state. The BCC team was successful once again, this time creating counter campaigns that ultimately exposed the smokescreen among legislators, decision
makers and the public, and publicly positioned the issue as an industry food fight and a tax increase on one Florida business. By the close of that session, the Governor and House and Senate leadership had all taken a position against tax increases, and cited the purported “Dosal Fee” to be nothing more than a tax on a Florida-based company.

Florida Harbor Pilots Association

Florida Harbor Pilots Association: Increased Visibility Campaign & Legislative Battle

GOAL: Increase awareness of harbor pilots and safeguard their profession
SUCCESS: Fended off significant legislation

Under attack by a newly-formed organization funded by wealthy foreign cruise line and cargo ship owners, the Florida Harbor Pilots Association engaged BCC to assist with branding, visibility, legislative outreach and education.

After launching a statewide rebranding, earned media and messaging campaign, the association received numerous statewide features, including supportive key political commentary in the state’s largest newspaper and front-page coverage throughout key regions. Through proactive media outreach,
counter-messaging and packaging of key advocacy pieces, the association was able to increase its visibility and educate key targets on the benefit of their industry, garnering significant legislative support.

At the close of session, the public relations effort, headed by the BCC team, was heralded for assisting the government relations team with fending off significant legislation that could have jeopardized the harbor pilots’ existence and the safety of Florida’s port and marine commerce. Over a decade later, the BCC team continues to build awareness around the benefits of the Florida harbor pilots profession and has also worked with harbor pilots in other states.

AT&T Florida

AT&T Florida: Cable, Market Parity & 5G Evolution

GOAL: Showcase need for innovation in telecom industry
SUCCESS: Cable, market parity and 5G signed into law

For more than a decade, the BCC team has been working with the AT&T public affairs team in Florida working to support their legislative efforts before the Capitol and across the state.

From the cable bill, to market parity legislation to the deployment of 5G, the BCC team has been there every step of the way to support the public affairs team with successful legislative communications strategies.

Over the years, the BCC team has assisted with building and managing coalitions, deployed aggressive editorial outreach and opinion editorial placement, engaged in deskside briefings with Capitol Press Corps members, coordinated efforts with bill sponsors, coordinated grassroots and grasstops activities, and developed themed advertising and creative collateral materials to use before key targets.

To date, AT&T Florida remains one of the most well-respected companies among the telecom industry in the Sunshine State, and we are proud to have been a part of this company’s public affairs footprint.

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