Martin: FCC May Need To Regulate Food Ads

MARTIN: FCC MAY NEED TO REGULATE FOOD ADS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a letter to House Telecommunications And Internet Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA), Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin and Commissioner Deborah Tate say the FCC may have to take steps to put additional restrictions on TV food advertising to kids. These restrictions could include limiting or eliminating the advertisements if the government/industry task force does not come up with sufficient self-regulation. They also said that any such regulation should target cable, where they argue the marketing of snack foods that "exacerbates the problems of childhood obesity and poor nutrition." They added that any proposed solution that does not include cable regulations "would be inappropriate and ineffective." They also said that the FCC would consider Chairman Markey's proposal to disqualify shows that air "junk food" ads from meeting the FCC's three-hour weekly educational programming minimum if the Task Force on Media and Childhood Obesity -- of which Martin and Tate are members -- did not come up with sufficient self-regulation.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6442041.html?rssid=193

* See Chairman Markey's letter and responses from Martin/Tate and fellow FCC Commissioner Michael Copps
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2821&Itemid=141

* Martin: Cable Part of Junk-Food Problem
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6442081.html?rssid=196