[Infowarrior] - TSA Pilot Would Offer Ads at Airport Security Checkpoints

[Richard Forno]

TSA Pilot Would Offer Ads at Airport Security Checkpoints
By Benet Wilson/Aviation Daily
01/04/2007 09:14:16 AM
http://aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_comm_story.jsp?id=news/ADS01047.xm
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Advertising in security checkpoints will be coming to an airport near you
under a proposed Transportation Security Administration pilot program.

Under the one-year pilot program, TSA will allow commercial advertising at
passenger screening checkpoints in select airports throughout the U.S. and
its territories. "Interested parties will have to partner with airport
operators to develop a proposal for TSA review. Only airport operators can
submit proposals for use of the checkpoints for advertising," according to a
Dec. 21, 2006, posting on the Federal Business Opportunities web site.

"TSA plans to launch a one-year pilot program where airport operators may
enter into an agreement with vendors, who will provide divestiture bins,
divestiture and composure tables, and metal-free bin return carts at no cost
to TSA," said spokeswoman Amy Kudwa. "In return for the equipment, TSA will
allow airport operator-approved advertisements to be displayed on the bottom
of the inside of the bins."

An initial test at Los Angeles began in July 2006, said Kudwa. TSA is
holding an Industry Day Jan. 11 at its headquarters in Arlington, Va., for
those interested in participating in the program.

"Any airport operator is allowed to submit a proposal by Feb. 16, 2007, to
TSA outlining how they will fulfill TSA's requirements," said Kudwa. "If the
proposal is accepted by TSA, a memorandum of agreement will be executed
between TSA and the airport operator."

As long as the advertising does not distract passengers from security, it's
a great opportunity, said Scott Montgomery, principal at Indianapolis-based
Bradley and Montgomery Advertising (BaM). BaM created a campaign for Chase
Bank to sponsor electrical outlets at Indianapolis International Airport
(The DAILY, May 30, 2006).