September 27, 2006
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate held a press conference today to announce the formation of a joint government/industry task force to examine the impact of media and advertising on children’s health.
According to Senator Brownback, the task force will hold a series of meetings beginning in January 2007 with all groups interested in working together to address childhood obesity. At the end of the year, the task force is expected to issue a report “detailing voluntary steps and goals for the public and private sectors in the fight against rising rates of childhood obesity.”
Senator Brownback and Commissioner Tate emphasized that the task force was intended to be a non-adversarial setting where industry groups, public interest groups and government officials can work together on solutions.
Task force members announced at the press conference include the Beverly LaHaye Institute, Children Now, Disney, the Parents Television Council, Sesame Street Workshop and the Benton Foundation. Senator Brownback stated that he is actively seeking food companies and other industry groups to join the task force.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Dan Jaffe (djaffe@ana.net) of Keith Scarborough (kscarborough@ana.net) in ANA’s Washington, DC office at (202) 296-1883.