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:I hyperbolically hope this spreads

[SuricouRaven]

Franklin didn't invent the lightning conductor - he only figured out how it worked. People before him figured out that a big metal spike stuck in the ground will attract lightning, and could be used to protect a building. They just didn't know why. There are ancient buddhist temples with lightning rods on. The modern design was invented in Russia, a bit before Franklin made his contribution to the theory side.

Re:It's almost as if

[commodore64_love]

I voted for Harry Browne (L) but of course it made no difference.

Maryland cast its votes for Gore. So people can't blame me for Gore losing (my state supported him 100%), and neither can people blame me for Bush's eight years (I never voted for him).