Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act
Encyclopedia
The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (/) (CALM Act) is legislation introduced by United States Senator
Roger Wicker
, a member of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
, on June 18, 2008. It requires the Federal Communications Commission
to regulate the audio of TV commercials from being broadcast at louder sound volumes than the TV program material they accompany. The bill passed on September 29, 2010. The bill requires the use of technology to ensure that commercials will be played at the same volume as the program. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) will begin enforcing this bill within a year.
The bill was the United States Senate
companion to proposed legislation in the House of Representatives
by Representative Anna Eshoo
(D-Calif), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The House bill has passed the Communications Subcommittee. Most of the bill consists of steps taken voluntarily by the broadcast industry and approved as "recommended practice" by the Advanced Television Systems Committee
(ATSC) on November 4, 2009. In fact, Rep. Anna Eshoo told the Wall Street Journal that legislation to mitigate the volume of commercials on TV was among the most popular pieces of legislation she’s sponsored in her 18 years in Congress.
Prior to adjourning for the midterm recess, the United States Senate unanimously passed the bill on Thursday, September 30, 2010. Before it was signed into law by the President
in December, minor differences between the two versions had to be worked out when Congress returned to Washington after the November 2 election. The reconciled bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama
on December 15, 2010 as Public Law 111-311.
The United States Congress
on December 2, 2010 passed the CALM Act(/). The CALM Act, which was sponsored by Eshoo in the House, requires broadcast
and cable television
stations to adopt industry technology that ensures that commercials aren't louder than regular programming. The legislation attracted overwhelming bipartisan support, and President Barack Obama
signed it into law Wednesday, December 15.
On May 27, 2011, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM), Media Bureau (MB) Docket 11-93, to implement the CALM Act. Comments were due July 8, 2011, and reply will be due on July 21, 2011. Twelve parties filed comments. Those comments are now available in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), as will be the reply comments, when due. The FCC will then issue a Report and Order (R&O) adopting rules to implement the CALM Act. The FCC has until December 15, 2011, to do so. The Commission's rules become effective one year from when they were adopted.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Roger Wicker
Roger Wicker
Roger Frederick Wicker is the junior U.S. Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. In December 2007 he was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour to fill the seat vacated by Trent Lott. He subsequently won the 2008 special election for the remainder of the term. Wicker served...
, a member of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate in charge of all senate matters related to the following subjects:* Coast Guard* Coastal zone management* Communications...
, on June 18, 2008. It requires the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
to regulate the audio of TV commercials from being broadcast at louder sound volumes than the TV program material they accompany. The bill passed on September 29, 2010. The bill requires the use of technology to ensure that commercials will be played at the same volume as the program. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) will begin enforcing this bill within a year.
The bill was the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
companion to proposed legislation in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
by Representative Anna Eshoo
Anna Eshoo
Anna Georges Eshoo is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, which includes part of Silicon Valley, includes the cities of Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto...
(D-Calif), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The House bill has passed the Communications Subcommittee. Most of the bill consists of steps taken voluntarily by the broadcast industry and approved as "recommended practice" by the Advanced Television Systems Committee
Advanced Television Systems Committee
The Advanced Television Systems Committee is the group, established in 1982, that developed the eponymous ATSC Standards for digital television in the United States, also adopted by Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and recently Honduras and is being considered by other countries.-See also:*ATSC...
(ATSC) on November 4, 2009. In fact, Rep. Anna Eshoo told the Wall Street Journal that legislation to mitigate the volume of commercials on TV was among the most popular pieces of legislation she’s sponsored in her 18 years in Congress.
Prior to adjourning for the midterm recess, the United States Senate unanimously passed the bill on Thursday, September 30, 2010. Before it was signed into law by the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in December, minor differences between the two versions had to be worked out when Congress returned to Washington after the November 2 election. The reconciled bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on December 15, 2010 as Public Law 111-311.
The United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on December 2, 2010 passed the CALM Act(/). The CALM Act, which was sponsored by Eshoo in the House, requires broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
and cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
stations to adopt industry technology that ensures that commercials aren't louder than regular programming. The legislation attracted overwhelming bipartisan support, and President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
signed it into law Wednesday, December 15.
On May 27, 2011, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Notice of proposed rulemaking
A notice of proposed rulemaking is a public notice issued by law when one of the independent agencies of the United States government wishes to add, remove, or change a rule or regulation as part of the rulemaking process. It is an important part of United States administrative law which...
(NPRM), Media Bureau (MB) Docket 11-93, to implement the CALM Act. Comments were due July 8, 2011, and reply will be due on July 21, 2011. Twelve parties filed comments. Those comments are now available in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), as will be the reply comments, when due. The FCC will then issue a Report and Order (R&O) adopting rules to implement the CALM Act. The FCC has until December 15, 2011, to do so. The Commission's rules become effective one year from when they were adopted.