May 17, 2011 — Widespread industry participation in online behavioral advertising (OBA) self-regulation is the only way for the program to succeed and for advertisers to stave off federal regulation of behavioral marketing practices, according to Dick O’Brien, head of the 4A’s Washington office and moderator of an OBA educational Webinar for ad agencies.

“Do it now,” said John Kamp, executive director of the Coalition for Healthcare Communication. “Agencies, publishers and medical companies must get on board today to make the self-regulation program work. If this program is not widespread and visible soon, Washington will mandate a ‘do-not-track’ program that will be a disaster for us, our clients and the public.”

The 4A’s Webinar, “A Complete ‘How-To’ Guide for Ad Agencies Implementing the New Industry Online Behavioral Advertising Program,” features presentations from John Montgomery, COO, GroupM; Josh Berman, director, Trading Strategy, GroupM; and Lee Peeler, president, National Advertising Review Council, Better Business Bureau. [View the free Webinar and learn more about OBA self-regulation at: http://www.aaaa.org/events/webinars/media/Pages/051011_dc_behavioral.aspx]

The Webinar speakers explain

the genesis of the AboutAds.com program and why it is so important for agencies and clients to participate now. They also cover the core principles of the program, who is covered, program icon implementation, entities’ roles and responsibilities, approved providers to assist companies, and program costs.

“The core of this sound, robust program is transparency and choice,” O’Brien said. “To keep government legislation away,” more entities must sign on for program implementation, he asserted.cialis capsules vs softabs