Andre Yoskowitz
30 Sep 2010 13:56
The United States Senate has passed a bill this week that will limit the volume of TV commercials, effectively putting the FCC in charge of regulating the new limits.
Dubbed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM), the bill passed the House last year and will return there for a final vote before President Obama signs it into law.
For decades, avid TV viewers have complained about the lack of volume control on commercials which can sometimes be much louder than the program you were watching.
"Every American has likely experienced the frustration of abrasively loud television commercials," adds Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "While this may be an effective way for ads to grab attention, it also adds unnecessary stress to the daily lives of many Americans. Last night’s action in the Senate will help end this annoying practice."
Whitehouse introduced the bill in the Senate.
"It's about time we turned down the volume on loud commercials that try to startle TV watchers into paying attention. This is a simple step that will keep ads at the same decibel level as the programs they are interrupting," notes Senator Charles Schumer, a co-sponsors. "TV viewers should be able to watch their favorite programs without fear of losing their hearing when the show goes to a commercial."