NCMR08 3: FACT, continued

Kathryn Montgomery, American University, will discuss children's issues. Kathryn works closely with the Jeff Chester at the Center for Digital Democracy. She highlights that both the Executive transitions and the digital transitions work together to open opportunities for positive change.

Major points

• The new digital marketing infrastructure is taking shape. Still, it's fluid, and there are opportunities for intervention. Marketers are looking at the digital media culture as an ecosystem that develops across platforms, creating "brand-saturated environments." They are leveraging social networks and encouraging young people to actively market to their peers through these ne
• Intervention opportunities
• Food marketing - most of the debate has been around TV advertising, but it's time to look at digital marketing. Kathryn is working on the FTC on this.
  
• Childrens' privacy online: IPR, US PIRG, CDD and others are also pressing the FTC on this.

Why is the FTC the regulatory body to pressure on children's issues? I guess its better to work within the trade framework than the speech framework to protect kids.

Rob Frieden, Penn State, on wireless policy. Frustrations:

• Policy favors concentration in control for carriers. Verizon announced intentions to acquire Alltel. "The FCC never saw a merger it didn't want to approve."
• 40 years ago, the FCC said consumers can own our own phones, despite the Big Bell's prophesies of doom. Carterphone for wireless! Wonky radicals, unite!