Senate Votes To Turn Down Volume On TV Commercials

Hugh Pickens writes "Ever since television caught on in the 1950s, the FCC has been getting complaints about blaring commercials but concluded in 1984 there was no fair way to write regulations controlling the 'apparent loudness' of commercials. Now the AP reports that the Senate has unanimously passed a bill to require television stations and cable companies to keep commercials at the same volume as the programs they interrupt using industry guidelines on how to process, measure and transmit audio in a uniform way. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), a co-sponsor, says it's time to stop the use of loud commercials to startle viewers into paying attention. 'TV viewers should be able to watch their favorite programs without fear of losing their hearing when the show goes to a commercial.' The House has already passed similar legislation, so before the new measure becomes law, minor differences between the two versions have to be worked out when Congress returns to Washington after the November 2 election."

Comments

Re:It's almost as if

[wjousts]

You mean the Republicans will filibuster it unless it includes tax breaks and gold plated blow jobs for their rich buddies.

Re:It's almost as if

[DriedClexler]

Congress isn't working for "the people"; this measure only shows that they're working for "the mouthbreathers" whose lives still revolve around watching the drivel they put on TV and for whom it would actually make a difference if commercials were quieter.

I don't identify with those people -- I have an IQ to protect.