Nick Kolovos, vice president of government relations at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, sent an e-mail on Dec. 22 to colleagues announcing he was leaving the cable group to join a new lobbying firm launching in January -- Ryan, MacKinnon, Vasapoli and Berzok.

All of the name partners of the new firm appear to be lobbyists currently with law and lobbying firm Ryan, Phillips, Utrecht & MacKinnon. No one at the firm could be reached for comment.

Kolovos, a former aide to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., could not be reached for comment.

                                                                                                                    -- Bara Vaida