Industry Filing on FCC's Notice of Inquiry on Children's Media

ANA and a broad coalition of advertising and media companies and associations have filed reply comments urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to recognize and protect the key economic foundation that advertising provides to media and our nation's citizens. The industry comments were filed last Friday in response to an FCC Notice of Inquiry (NOI) entitled "Empowering Parents and Protecting Children in an Evolving Media Landscape." 

ANA played a key role in coordinating the development of these comments. The NOI raises a number of very serious questions about the impact of advertising and media on children. Unfortunately, it has given our critics the opportunity to develop a ‘wish list' of ads and content in various media that they would like to see blocked or eliminated. In the current economy, the last thing the FCC should consider is a speculative regulatory regime that would threaten the economic foundation that advertising provides to a wide array of media choices.  These comments provide a comprehensive summary of the various steps industry has taken to protect children. 

In addition to ANA, the coalition of National Media and Advertisers includes: the American Advertising Federation; the American Association of Advertising Agencies; CBS Corporation; the Direct Marketing Association; Discovery Communications, Inc.; Fox Entertainment Group; the Grocery Manufacturers Association; the Illinois Broadcasters Association; Interactive Advertising Bureau; Maine Association of Broadcasters; NBC Universal, Inc.; Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters; the Promotion Marketing Association; Texas Association of Broadcasters; Viacom, Inc.; the Walt Disney Company; and the Washington State Association of Broadcasters.  Several other companies provided financial support for the comments but chose not to be listed.

The industry comments were written by First Amendment expert Robert Corn-Revere, a partner with the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP.  

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Dan Jaffe (djaffe@ana.net) in ANA's Washington, D.C. office at 202.296.1883.