The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act

Wired is running an article about the CALM Act.

The CALM Act (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation) would require the FCC to enforce “internationally accepted standards of television advertisement volumes” within a year of becoming law. A version of the act had already passed in the House, where it will return for reconciliation with the Senate bill. Supporters hope for a final vote next month. It’s hard to image President Obama not signing it.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the article’s premise that this is too late. With a little daughter at home, I frequently have to jump for the DVR remote to avoid disturbing her when she’s asleep and I’m watching TV. Sure, I fast-forward through the commercials anyway, but I don’t have to be right on the button like I do when I’m trying to avoid the huge blast of sound that the commercial breaks all have. I especially loathe the loud “bumpers” that AMC puts around Mad Men and its other top shows, but don’t know if they’ll be covered by this act.

In any case, this is welcome and I hope it passes. The industry has proven that it isn’t willing to self-regulate in this regard and this legislation is what they get for being jerks.


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