Congress Passes Bill to Lower Volume on Noisy TV Ads
- Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:37pm by
Scott Baker
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Here’s a message TV viewers may not want to mute: The days of getting blasted out of one’s easy chair by blaring TV commercials may soon be over. The House on Thursday passed a bill that would prevent advertisers from abruptly raising the volume to catch the attention of viewers wandering off when regular programming is interrupted.
The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said it was her own “earsplitting experiences” that got her involved, recalling how the ads “blew us out of the house” when she watched television, already set at a high volume, with her late parents.
But she said her office also has gotten many messages of support and that at home people come up to her in restaurants and supermarkets to ask how the bill is doing.
“We can protect people from needlessly loud noise spikes that can actually harm their hearing,” she said.
Under the legislation, now heading to President Barack Obama for his signature, the Federal Communications Commission would be required within one year to adopt industry standards that coordinate ad decibel levels to those of the regular program. The new regulations, applying to all broadcast providers, including cable and satellite, would go into effect a year after that.
“Every American has likely experienced the frustration of abrasively loud television commercials,” the Senate sponsor of the bill, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said when the Senate approved it in September. “While this may be an effective way for ads to grab attention, it also adds unnecessary stress to the daily lives of many Americans.”
“It’s not like the consumer has any choices,” said Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America. “It‘s a case where it’s very difficult for consumers to express their sovereignty.”
The FCC has been receiving complaints from consumers since the 1960s about jarring sound bursts when commercials come on, but the commission currently does not regulate program or commercial volume. Instead, it reminds viewers that newer TVs come equipped with circuits designed to stabilize volume differences or advises people that one solution is still to make aggressive use of the mute button on the remote.
The legislation would force the industry to abide by its own recommendations for audio standards as devised a year ago by the Advanced Television Systems Committee, an organization of broadcasters.
Dick O’Brien, director of government relations at the American Association of Advertising Agencies, said his group supports the bill because “we fully understand that advertising works best when it engages consumers, not alienates them.”
He said enforcing volume control guidelines already proposed by the industry “in itself should make the viewing experience of the American public a much more user-friendly one.”
Eshoo said there will be a “noticeable difference” in noise levels once the law goes into effect. It’s a small bill in the greater scheme of things, she said, but “it will bring relief to millions of television viewers.”
Managing the transition poses some technical challenges because the shows and ads come from a variety of sources, and may require TV broadcasters to purchase new equipment.
The legislation does give the FCC authority to issue waivers to broadcasters for hardship or other reasons.
One reason commercials may sound louder is a sound compression technique in which the difference between loud and soft sounds is compressed. The result is that while the peak sound levels of commercials and programs may not differ, the average levels of commercials are higher.
The title of the bill is the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or CALM Act.
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The bill is S. 2847.
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Online:
Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov
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Comments (92)
ascoolone
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:48pmOh My Goodness this is so Important. I suggest they just go home and give us all a Christmas Gift.
Report Post »chuchu12
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:41pmmaybe they can put a remote control tax on each remote so all us fat fatty fatsos can help fund the health care law.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:34pmJack_sses. Can you say mute button?
Report Post »ronmorgen
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:34pmI have already dealt with the problem of loud commercials. It was a market driven solution instead of big brother taking care of me. I threw away my TV 6 years ago for content problems. Since then my knowledge has increased exponentially due to the extra time I’ve spent on the internet and in reading. Unfortunately I still have to pay indirectly through taxes for the extra costs of implementing the solution of these stupid people.
Report Post »NO_POTTERSVILLE
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:26pmWhat’s next, are they going to turn down the brightness on your TV during certain scenes. Why don’t they do something constructive such as legislating smellovision. I’d love to be able to smell that big fat greasy burger that mochelle Obigass says is bad for me
Report Post »rdk
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:20pmOutstanding work. Worthy of an award. Is there a Nobel prize for earth shaking legislation?
Report Post »NO_POTTERSVILLE
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:19pmI wonder how this would affect deaf people or people hard of hearing??
Report Post »squeaker
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 2:14amwhat
Report Post »ronmorgen
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:19pmNext we will be regulating how many children you can have, what books you may read, what god you may worship, and what job you will work at. It’s all for your own good.
Report Post »James
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:17pmThey did a similar thing a few years ago but it really didn’t do any good. Now the commercials can only be as load as the loudest part of the show. So, if there is an explosion or car chase and then a quite scene when the commercial comes on it can still be deafening.
In any case it’s nice to see thet have important issues to resolve. I would rather they do this than some of the other stuff they could be doing, it doesn’t do much damage.
http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/
Report Post »Matthew
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:11pmNot important compared to Obama’s proposed tax increase at the end of the year, but very welcomed just the same. Something the lame duck Congress can write home about.
Report Post »henryKnox
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:08pmWhat a waste of taxpayer money. I’m going to find out if my reps voted for this and let them know my disapproval. I hope no republicans voted for this waste of time and money. The federal gov‘t has specific defined responsibilities and I don’t think this is one of them. I‘ve about had it with the Federal gov’t, I want my state to secede from the federal gov’t system.
Report Post »Capt_Spalding
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:00pmSure is good to know that everything else is right in our country and we have NOTHING else to discuss, let alone vote on.
Report Post »ONce again, it has been confirmed that this is THE. MOST. USELESS. Congress EVER!
I would expect nothing more out of them then to pass legislation that is the equivalent of a frickin’ REMOTE CONTROL! What a bunch of morons…
Gunonesis
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:00pmMs. Pelosi, would you be so kind as to come over my house to help me fix my woodchipper.
Report Post »When I turn the power on just look in and perhaps we could figure out what the problem is.
Psychosis
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 11:32pmnot a good idea…..that face of hers would dull the blades.
Report Post »parmajohn
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:58pmWatch the other hand…..and Did yoy see Ol” Charlie singing that same old song I did it for my people What a sham it has become…SHAM-WOW guy makes more sense Ya Know he can’t do it all day But they can with out a kiss or dinner…..
Report Post »FreedomAdvocate
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:55pmWhile I don’t mind the effect of this law, I feel uncomfortable with the government stepping into regulating any business (commercials is how broadcasters make money, and this will impact their bottom) since it is a slippery slope and they are bound to move on to regulating something which some people will disagree with.
Report Post »MidAmerican
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:53pmAs I watch them regulate the volume, I wonder how long it will be before they try “content”.
Report Post »MGB-CPA
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:52pmReally, if you think about it, this really isn’t something we want our legislators passing laws for. I personally don’t want government in every aspect of my life and passing laws to control every act THEY deem harmful to us. Doesn’t anyone agree???
Report Post »ronmorgen
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:10pmExactly. And they even admitted there will be substantial costs. So we get more government control and less money. Busisness as usual.
Report Post »www.PoliticalTs.com
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:51pmNobody even gives a damm about this issue, to comment on it.
Report Post »jds7171
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:50pmNow they are going to make a regulation that the tv can only stay on for a certain amount of time before it automatically turns off. Then you have to keep it off for a couple of hours before the tv is able to turn on.
Report Post »We need to open our eyes!
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:54pmSounds possible, especially if the timing is when certain “shows” are on.
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:34pmCertain shows that happen to come on at 5:00PM, maybe?
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:47pmWow…substantial stuff.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:45pmNow if they would only pass legislation to lower the volume of noisy Joy Behar the world we be close to perfect.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:55pmwatch out or else she will leave the set :)
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:45pmthat friggin’ geico add with the damn little piggy going wEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE all the way home made my ears bleed.
much like congress.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:54pmBut it is funny at least
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:55pmHahaha, good one, Butcher.
But, seriously, I think they already invented a solution to this problem, it’s called the “down volume” button on your remote control. ;)
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:05pmUnderstood just how annoying THAT commercial is; simple solution for piggy though – BBQ and port chops…sent to Irans leader of course.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 11:22pm@snow
agreed. very tasty.
but the bible clearly forbides the eating of pork in Lev 11:7-8
how do you, as a chaplain, reconcile that god-given decree from the old testament god (which, according to the trinity of the new testament, WAS also jesus) and the practice of eating pork bbq that you seem to endorse? Jesus never ate pork. It was against his religion. WWJD?
I’d love to debate you more directly (is there any way we can do so? I’ll post my email if yr interested)
————————-
but sure. send it to Iran.
Along with 300 cases of beer and bourbon (each). along with the writings to thomas jefferson, etc..
more religious folks need a good stiff drink (in moderation) more than they need to swear off booze and direct their addictive personalities towards the metaphysical and religious. why not direct those same restless, self-destructive energies towards literature, mystery, science and the truly unknown?
cheers
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 11:56pm@mr butcher
I too am a follower of the Leviticus and Deuteronomy health codes; especially the no eating of pork. I should have been clearer in the making of a joke about BBQ pork chops. Obviously my telling of a joke leaves much to be desired.
I agree on the part of sending the beer to Iran as well; I never have touched liquor, and disdain even the usage of medical alcohol to sterilize a cut (i do so, due to it being only for the sterilization of an injury) any bread I partake of does not use alcohol in it; just old fashion unleaven bread.
Also, those tight jacketed ministers would probably loosen up with some wine or such; I have dealt with too many who seem to, as a saying goes ‘suck sour lemons a lot.” And there are several other pastors who also have interests, like myself in literature (across the ages and genre, not any one particular author or time period), the arts (drawing and pastels myself – see the link of “mixed art” for a link to my online gallery of cat-folks and such) and science (deep seas, stars, space, atmosphere and chemistry (limited) along with physics and electrical engineering.)
Again my apologies for a bad joke being made. Somehow I need to find a book on how to tell jokes better.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:45pmTax dollars hard at work … YIPP-EEEE
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:56pmyeah what a waste of time , my remote control can take care of that .
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:44pmWill there be an addendum for sign language?
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:57pmwhat, and remove the “clef-clef”?
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 11:36pmI have always wanted to know how to yell using sign language……they never taught us these things at the Jethro Bodine Elementary/High School/Community College/Distillery……I only learned the banjo(next to last in my class) and making 190 proof white lightnin’(last in my class).
Report Post »bulldog62
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:42pmI’m glad there are not any more important issues for congress to deal with, oh wait……
Report Post »cognitivedissonance
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:50pmYeah, they are wasting valuable time they could be using to make empty threats to defund the Smithsonian.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 9:50pmWell, I’m glad something got done today.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:00pmAnyway I can get a government official to come to my house and show me how to work the remote. Serious we should have legislation that all poor or unemployeed persons should get direct directions on how to work the remote and possibly even learn to work the volume.
Report Post »Big Bob
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:01pmHell I took care of the problem on my own and didn’t even need the commie patrol I just got rid of my tv.
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:01pmThe bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said it was her own “earsplitting experiences” that got her involved, recalling how the ads “blew us out of the house” when she watched television, already set at a high volume, with her late parents.
Could we possibly get that TV set brought into Congress and shake things up a bit?
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:03pm@Big bob,
My old TV just destructed (fell apart systematically, component by component when being moved, very funny to watch) so solved my volume problems as well.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:05pmAgain, what idiots. It’s called the MUTE button. It’s called a remote control. Yeah, if there’s nothing else for you guys to FOCUS on in the WH first.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:12pmCOG -
the loudness of a TV in your private home
hate filled art at a public museum.
EXACT SAME THING!
Although they could waste their time on better things than either of those…
Of course I guess the only people who get to speak out about religious hatred and freedom of speech are liberals..
sad day
Report Post »casseopea42
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 10:36pmwhat? I’s sorry can you speak up? I can’t hear you over my TV.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 2, 2010 at 11:52pmI don’t even watch shows when they start, I DVR them, wait until they are 20 mins or so in, then watch and fast forward through comercials. Haven’t sees a comercial block in a while.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 12:52amUnconstitutional.
I support the advertisers right to make whatever the TV channel allows. Loud, or otherwise.
Report Post »End The Fed
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 1:44am@ doctors labor
Completely agree! It sounded great at first, but – government OUT of this type of media regulation. As a matter of fact, the government needs to stay out regulating media content, period!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 5:31amThank goodness! Hopefully they will implement this soon and I won’t have to listen to my husband b _ _ _ h about the volume anymore. It literally has to be put on “mute” in order to stay in the same room. Kudos on this one.
Report Post »1st a Father
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 6:23amOh, come on. It’s a really big annoyance, but do we really need to legislate this. Chances are there will be a lot of pork tied to this bill. Do we really want to give legislators an excuse to create more unnecessary laws.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 7:45amYeah, they must have college football playoffs or baseball players’ steroid usage to worry about.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on December 3, 2010 at 10:19amNow that is doing a good job of prioritizing. These clowns are so out of touch with real America it’s amazing.
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