Archive by author:
Howard FienbergReturn
Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers.
Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS.
He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC).
When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.
Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA-03) has introduced the Research Fairness Act (H.R. 5915) in the U.S. Congress to prevent marketing research participants from being treated as employees of research companies.
Read More
Going into the House of Representatives floor debate on Census funding this week, MRA and our coalition partners in the Census Project knew we were in for trouble -- but not this much trouble. The House voted to shift some of the Census funding in the Commerce Justice State (CJS) Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2013 to other programs -- then voted to neuter, and ultimately kill, the American Community Survey (ACS).We were already concerned that the proposed funding for the Census in thi...
Read More
Survey, opinion and marketing research companies that conduct alcohol taste tasting research should be aware that many states oblige companies to obtain a permit or license to serve alcoholic beverages, even for complimentary purposes. State regulatory agencies may also require registration prior to conducting taste testing studies.
Read More
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today unanimously approved new regulations under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) – the key law restricting telephone survey research across the U.S. – that will prohibit most telemarketing robocalls while continuing to permit survey research calls.
Read More
"Sugging" is a term used by survey researchers to describe the unethical practice of selling under the guise of research.
Read More
Though it may be commonly cited that the government is the largest purchaser of survey and opinion research in the country, figures on how much the U.S. government actually spends on survey research are not readily apparent.
Read More
Recent wins for pharmaceutical marketing research in Maine and DC leave only West Virginia and Vermont as the jurisdictions currently restricting or prohibiting research with physicians and healthcare professionals.
Read More
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) signed H.B. 4314 into law as Public Act 58 of 2011 on June 14.
Read More
MRA's cooperative lobbying efforts with the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) bore fruit this year in Alabama and Alaska.
Read More
The Commerce Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee approved legislation yesterday that would strengthen the security of consumer data, while also making two important changes crucial to the conduct of marketing research in the United States.
Read More