Google Learns Lessons in the Ways of Washington

After Google and Yahoo announced an advertising partnership in June, letters from consumer groups and advertising associations poured into government regulators, urging them to support or block the proposed deal.

Among the complaints from lobbyists to government officials were letters from several farm groups, including the National Association of Farmer Elected Committees and the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association. They said that because farmers use the Internet, they were worried about a Google-Yahoo monopoly.