Representing Business Information Inside the Beltway

American Business Media represents its members in Washington on a wide range of issues affecting its members, including postal, privacy, protection of intellectual property, spam/faxes, taxes, First Amendment and others affecting the business information industry. In recent years, such efforts have resulted in a series of victories, including fairer postal rates and the establishment of a Presidential Commission that led to passage of postal reform legislation supported by ABM.  ABM’s new Information Policy Committee (IPC) has been active in studying and developing ABM positions on the new issues, such as net neutrality, that will affect information providers in the coming years. 

Founded in 1906 when a group of 12 business paper publishers gathered in Niagara Falls, New York to combat a threatened postal increase—from one cent to two cents per pound—the Association has since been active in various legislative and regulatory initiatives, including the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, the Can Spam Act, the Junk Fax prevention Act  and most recently with the passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act in 2006, and a string of successes in postal rate cases before the Postal Rate Commission.

ABM members can take advantage of limited, but invaluable free legal consultation services on issues impacting the business information industry such as postal rates and classifications, privacy, piracy, tax, spam/fax and human resources; Click here for a contact list of American Business Media’s legal and postal counsel, and check the Washington Updates page to access information and guidelines on the latest regulatory happenings.

Recognizing Government Service: The Tom Tully Award
The Thomas Tully Award recognizes pivotal officials for outstanding government service to the business media and information industry. Past winners include:
Postmaster John E. Potter
Rae Evans, Evans Capitol Group
David Straus, Thompson Coburn

Washington Forum
A classic American Business Media tradition that was resurrected in recent years, the Washington Forum  is a unique opportunity for ABM members to connect directly with key government figures and educate them about the business information industry. Past sessions have included speakers such as Postmaster General Jack Potter, Senator John Sununu (New Hampshire), Congressmen Don Manzullo (Illinois), and Representative Tom Davis (Virginia), a key economic advisor to the President and others. ABM member also visit to Capitol Hill to meet with key members of Congress to share their views on industry issues.

Keeping You Informed
American Business Media accredited representatives and Governmental Affairs Committee members receive Inside the Beltway, an e-newsletter update on Washington developments relevant to our industry. Past editions are available here. If you'd like to receive Inside the Beltway, please send your Name, Email, Company and Job Title to info@abmmail.com.

ABM also publishes a weekly email newsletter, E-news, providing updates on Association and member happenings in industry, Madison Avenue, Wall Street and the Beltway. Past editions are available here. If you'd like to sign up for E-news, please click here.