The FCC wants feedback on making TV ads quieter. A...
The FCC wants feedback on making TV ads quieter. A rulemaking notice issued Friday seeks comment on implementing last year’s Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, as expected (CD May 26 p7). “The Commission has received complaints about ‘loud commercials’ virtually…
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since the inception of commercial television, more than 50 years ago” and they've been a top source of complaints since at least 2002, read part of the second paragraph. Ads much louder than the shows they appear in happen with terrestrial, cable and DBS programming, the notice said. It asked how TV stations and multichannel video programming distributors can show they're following the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s A/85 standard and proposed “a consumer-driven complaint process to enforce regulations.” The agency sought comments on “challenges for stations/MVPDs in complying with the statute and approaches that will enable them to comply.” Comments are due 30 days after the rulemaking notice appears in the Federal Register, replies 15 days later. Commissioner Michael Copps said “thank goodness that relief is on the way for viewers.” The CALM Act’s original sponsor, House Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., praised the rulemaking notice as “significant progress towards achieving the implementation deadline of Dec. 15, 2011 and bringing much needed relief to the American consumer.”