IAB Long-Tail Alliance publishers on Capitol Hill

Earlier this week, it was my pleasure to represent Apparel Media Group at the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s 2nd annual Long Tail Alliance DC Fly-in.  Over the course of the two day program, dozens of small content publishers and interactive ad networks participated in interactive panels on topics ranging from direct selling into brands to malware control and lobbied members of congress and the senate on behalf of more than 375 companies responsible for selling  over 86% of online advertising in the United States.

I had the opportunity to discuss key issues around consumer privacy and the collection of information online, interactive ad targeting, and industry regulation with five members congress and their legislative staffers.  In these discussions, it was clear that Members of Congress both on and outside of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce are concerned with the well-being of small businesses that depend on the ability to sell targeted interactive advertising to provide jobs for their employees and valuable content to their audiences.

Shout-outs to Google DC office staffers for hosting a heck of a dinner and to Tara at Venable for an awesome job chaperoning our group!

[Update - 6/24:  WSJ - To stem privacy abuses, industry groups will track web trackers]

[Update - 6/21:  NPR - Lawmakers try to introduce new bill]

[Update - 6/20:  Politico -  Website owners lobby against bill]