FCC passes rules banning extra-loud commercials - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 12-13-2011, 04:43 PM

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...d-commercials/

FCC passes rules banning extra-loud commercials

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve rules implementing legislation that makes it illegal for advertisers to pump up the volume during television commercial breaks.

The law, called the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, aims to answer the complaints of Americans who have for years protested that commercials are too loud.

"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took a major step toward eliminating one of the most persistent problems of the television age - loud commercials," the FCC said in a statement following the passage of the CALM rules. "Congress gave the Commission, for the first time, authority to address the problem of excessive commercial loudness."

The legislation, which is slated to go into effect on December 13, 2012, dictates that cable providers be responsible for the volume of the advertisements they run, both locally and nationally.

According the FCC, the new law will require that "commercials have the same average volume as the programs they accompany" and will establish "simple, practical ways for stations and [multichannel video program distributors] MVPDs to demonstrate their compliance with the rules."

The commission argues that a year will give distributors "ample time" to fully comply with the new guidelines. Penalties for failure to compliance have not yet been determined.

According to the FCC, all stations and distributors are responsible for complying with the rules. If the Commission sees a pattern or trend of complaints indicating noncompliance by a smaller entity -- some of which have argued that implementing the new regulations will be costly -- that entity can either provide evidence contradicting the complaint, or spot-check the audio on the offending channel.

On its website, the FCC encourages consumers to "report TV commercials that seem louder than the program they follow to the FCC" as a means to "identify possible problem areas" and help evaluate the legislation's effectiveness once it goes into effect.

California Democratic Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, who sponsored the legislation, praised the FCC vote.

"TV stations now have the responsibility to turn down the volume on excessively loud commercials, and it's about time," she said.

"The law I wrote is simple - the volume of television commercials cannot be louder than regular programming," she added. "Households across the country will soon get the relief they deserve from the annoyance of blaringly loud television commercials."

The CALM Act passed unanimously in the Senate in September 2010, and was approved by a voice vote in the House December of that same year. President Obama signed the bill into law shortly thereafter, before the FCC set to work establishing the rules approved on Tuesday.

retrofan05 · 12-13-2011, 05:50 PM

Great!! Next, step: limit the number of commercials!

LUNCH · 12-13-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retrofan05

Great!! Next, step: limit the number of commercials!

Yeah. It's nice that they passed that calm act,but obviously the much bigger problem is the amount of commercials allowed.So they are not addressing most of the problem.All they are doing is just throwing a few crumbs at the viewing public.If they really meant business they would bring back the regulations/laws that used to be in place that limited commercials to a maximum of 5 minutes per half hour. I'm not impressed.

Family Ties Forever! · 12-13-2011, 07:30 PM

That's good. Commercials always seem to be louder than the actual program that is on. Let's hope they follow through and lower the volume on commercials.

SpenceOlchin · 12-13-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUNCH

Yeah. It's nice that they passed that calm act,but obviously the much bigger problem is the amount of commercials allowed.So they are not addressing most of the problem.All they are doing is just throwing a few crumbs at the viewing public.If they really meant business they would bring back the regulations/laws that used to be in place that limited commercials to a maximum of 5 minutes per half hour. I'm not impressed.

I'd like to see a law against popups, banner ads and other distracting and unnecessary screen clutter.

LUNCH · 12-13-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpenceOlchin

I'd like to see a law against popups, banner ads and other distracting and unnecessary screen clutter.

I fully agree.And if they wanted to they could pass a law banning all that garbage within a day.But they don't.

MrCleveland · 12-13-2011, 08:53 PM

Agree...

I HATE that Wendy's Ad that pops-up on here! The one with that messy-ass baby and their parents...sick!

tiredmike59 · 12-13-2011, 11:55 PM

" There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission...We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical...For the next hour,sit quietly and we will control all you see and hear. "

They have the American people under their power, They don't need loud commercials anyway. It's called mass hypnosis. People watch tv and do what they are told. Just look at who they vote for or the crap they buy. TV told them to so it must be the right thing to do.

retrofan05 · 12-14-2011, 10:58 AM

While they're at it, they should also ban off-the-clock scheduling. All shows should end on the hour or half hour. The only exception should be for movies.

Regulus · 12-15-2011, 10:31 PM

I'd like to see the "V-Chip" Law AMENDED so that it includes Commercials as well as Programming. Advertisers of products such as Viagra, Cialis, Trojans and Kotex, among others show no regard as to WHO is in front of the TV Set when their commercials are being aired. Even Children's Shows aren't safe from these Abomonations. Parents have to CRINGE whenever a Show thair Children are watching goes to a Commercial Break, as there is no indication that these kinds of ads are about to be shown. Parents already have the right to determine what TV Shows their kids can watch, they should also be able to determine what kinds of Commercials they can or cannot see.

Watch for my New Avatar on New Year's Eve!

Penny Lane · 12-16-2011, 03:04 AM

Tubehead · 12-16-2011, 02:34 PM

they should also bann the movie the theather to stop blaasting preview loud. theyshould also bann commericail from the movie theater and you tube. they also bann by showingtoo many comerial justwhen i watch favortie prgraamm i think it coming on then it goes to commmerical. how about limiting commmerical were you don't have to wait forever to seeyour faortie tv show.

Schmoopie · 12-17-2011, 03:58 AM

This is good news. I don't mind the commercials that much since about 99% of what I watch is on my DVR so I can just fast-foreword through them.

12-13-2011, 04:43 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	FCC passes rules banning extra-loud commercials http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...d-commercials/ FCC passes rules banning extra-loud commercials The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve rules implementing legislation that makes it illegal for advertisers to pump up the volume during television commercial breaks. The law, called the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, aims to answer the complaints of Americans who have for years protested that commercials are too loud. "The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today took a major step toward eliminating one of the most persistent problems of the television age - loud commercials," the FCC said in a statement following the passage of the CALM rules. "Congress gave the Commission, for the first time, authority to address the problem of excessive commercial loudness." The legislation, which is slated to go into effect on December 13, 2012, dictates that cable providers be responsible for the volume of the advertisements they run, both locally and nationally. According the FCC, the new law will require that "commercials have the same average volume as the programs they accompany" and will establish "simple, practical ways for stations and [multichannel video program distributors] MVPDs to demonstrate their compliance with the rules." The commission argues that a year will give distributors "ample time" to fully comply with the new guidelines. Penalties for failure to compliance have not yet been determined. According to the FCC, all stations and distributors are responsible for complying with the rules. If the Commission sees a pattern or trend of complaints indicating noncompliance by a smaller entity -- some of which have argued that implementing the new regulations will be costly -- that entity can either provide evidence contradicting the complaint, or spot-check the audio on the offending channel. On its website, the FCC encourages consumers to "report TV commercials that seem louder than the program they follow to the FCC" as a means to "identify possible problem areas" and help evaluate the legislation's effectiveness once it goes into effect. California Democratic Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, who sponsored the legislation, praised the FCC vote. "TV stations now have the responsibility to turn down the volume on excessively loud commercials, and it's about time," she said. "The law I wrote is simple - the volume of television commercials cannot be louder than regular programming," she added. "Households across the country will soon get the relief they deserve from the annoyance of blaringly loud television commercials." The CALM Act passed unanimously in the Senate in September 2010, and was approved by a voice vote in the House December of that same year. President Obama signed the bill into law shortly thereafter, before the FCC set to work establishing the rules approved on Tuesday.

12-13-2011, 07:30 PM	#4
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	That's good. Commercials always seem to be louder than the actual program that is on. Let's hope they follow through and lower the volume on commercials.
	__________________ Jenny

12-13-2011, 08:53 PM	#7
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,233	Agree... I HATE that Wendy's Ad that pops-up on here! The one with that messy-ass baby and their parents...sick!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

12-15-2011, 10:31 PM	#10
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	I'd like to see the "V-Chip" Law AMENDED so that it includes Commercials as well as Programming. Advertisers of products such as Viagra, Cialis, Trojans and Kotex, among others show no regard as to WHO is in front of the TV Set when their commercials are being aired. Even Children's Shows aren't safe from these Abomonations. Parents have to CRINGE whenever a Show thair Children are watching goes to a Commercial Break, as there is no indication that these kinds of ads are about to be shown. Parents already have the right to determine what TV Shows their kids can watch, they should also be able to determine what kinds of Commercials they can or cannot see. Watch for my New Avatar on New Year's Eve!
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

12-16-2011, 03:04 AM	#11
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,263
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

12-13-2011, 05:50 PM	#2
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	Great!! Next, step: limit the number of commercials!

12-13-2011, 11:55 PM	#8
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	" There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission...We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical...For the next hour,sit quietly and we will control all you see and hear. " They have the American people under their power, They don't need loud commercials anyway. It's called mass hypnosis. People watch tv and do what they are told. Just look at who they vote for or the crap they buy. TV told them to so it must be the right thing to do.

12-14-2011, 10:58 AM	#9
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	While they're at it, they should also ban off-the-clock scheduling. All shows should end on the hour or half hour. The only exception should be for movies.

12-16-2011, 02:34 PM	#12
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	they should also bann the movie the theather to stop blaasting preview loud. theyshould also bann commericail from the movie theater and you tube. they also bann by showingtoo many comerial justwhen i watch favortie prgraamm i think it coming on then it goes to commmerical. how about limiting commmerical were you don't have to wait forever to seeyour faortie tv show.

12-17-2011, 03:58 AM	#13
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	This is good news. I don't mind the commercials that much since about 99% of what I watch is on my DVR so I can just fast-foreword through them.
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