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Uploaded: Thursday, December 13, 2012, 1:21 PM
New law calms loud television commercials
Law authored by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, goes into effect
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A law authored by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Menlo Park, that turns down the volume on TV commercials went into effect Thursday (Dec. 13).
The CALM Act, or Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, requires TV providers to keep the volume of commercials at the same level as regular programming.
The congresswoman, working with Rhode Island Democrat Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, pushed for the legislation after she discovered decades of consumer complaints to the Federal Communications Commission about "earsplitting television ads," according to the congresswoman.
At a news conference held Thursday morning in Washington, D.C., Rep. Eshoo lauded the implementation of the law helping all Americans no matter their political affiliation. "This is obviously a relief to consumers," she said.
Quieter TV viewing has arrived nearly two years after President Obama signed Rep. Eshoo's legislation into law on Dec. 15, 2010. At the news conference, she recalled how her bill came into existence.
At a family gathering four years ago, a commercial that she called a "blast" came on while her family watched a sporting event. After muting the ad, her brother-in-law told her to do something in Congress about the loud disturbance on the television, Rep. Eshoo said.
The FCC approved its final rules of the law last year and widespread implementation began Thursday, the end of a grace period to accommodate any financial hardship on TV providers to comply with the law, according to Rep. Eshoo's spokesman Charles Stewart.
The FCC will be charged with regulating commercial volumes. According to the FCC, they will rely on consumers to monitor industry compliance with the new law. Complaints for any violators can be filed at www.fcc.gov/complaints.
— Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Joseph E. Davis, a resident of the Woodside: Emerald Hills neighborhood, on Dec 13, 2012 at 5:33 pm What an absurd waste of time. Isn't there anything better for Eshoo to concentrate on? For example, I don't know, the impending bankruptcy of the nation?
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Posted by Some Guy, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 8:26 am Considering how much the average person looooooves TV, this will probably ensure her reelection for life, and make her a modern folk hero.
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Posted by ReaderToo, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 9:42 am Might be good to have the history on this. This link could help:
Web Link
*The bill was approved in 2009.*
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Posted by Maggs, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 11:35 am Awesome. About time someone fixed it, rather than just moaned about it!
Complaining about Ms Eshoo is a popular activity from the fringe conservatives in the Bay Area, yet this very popular bill is a silly choice upon which to mount an assault; the legislation attracted overwhelming bipartisan support.
To Mr Davis, who wants action from Congress -- tell Mr Boehner to get to work! He released Congress last week after working 2 1/2 days! He has yet to outline which revenue enhancements or any specifics like cutting the mortgage deduction, nor has he spoke of any specific spending cuts he seeks.
A do nothing congress is the fault of the Speaker, not the reps.
Fox: "Chris Wallace Grills Speaker Boehner On ‘Do-Nothing Congress’: ‘One Of Least Productive Ever’ "
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Posted by POGO, a resident of the Woodside: other neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 1:27 pm I always thought it was against FCC regulations for commercials to be louder than programs. Apparently I was wrong and I have noticed the increased volume of commercials lately, often to absurd levels!
Thank you, Ms. Eshoo. You know, not every problem or solution is as momentous as "peace in the Middle East" but this one will help with our quality of life, even if just a bit.
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Posted by gunste, a resident of the Portola Valley: Ladera neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 1:35 pm It was a long time in becoming effective. But with the best invention since the advent of TV, the Remote with a MUTE and Last Channel button,
one never has to listen to commercials and decide which of five successive ads for different cars you are not going to buy. Last channel = PBS - no commerciaals.
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Posted by POGO, a resident of the Woodside: other neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 1:42 pm Well aren't PBS watchers the enlightened ones? By the way, PBS most certainly does have commercials ("this program is brought to you by Exxon...") and they usually last 15 seconds each.
But some of us - probably most of us - like the choices offered on other channels. And I think the best invention is the "8 second repeat" offered on DVRs like Tivo. I wish they had it on radio.
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Posted by Joe, a resident of the Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 2:04 pm Some of us, probably not most of us, don't have a TV. We have books and periodicals and lots of time to enjoy a life of the mind that is not characterized by endless entertainment.
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Posted by Maggs, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 2:07 pm Ditto on the 8 sec tivo button.
Perfect for hard to get dialogue, whether the street dialect on The Wire or the hushed accent on Downton.
Not bad for Warrior replays either.
Overall, with the shape and button placement, the tivo remote... I wore off the actual print on certain buttons because it became an extension of my hand.
Best. Design, Ever.
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Posted by Hmmm, a resident of another community, on Dec 14, 2012 at 3:50 pm POGO - you nailed it.
I loved the mute button on a cord that my electrical engineer uncle hooked up when we were kids. He said it was what kept him sane.
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Posted by David B, a resident of the Portola Valley: Central Portola Valley neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 5:14 pm Boy, I have mixed thoughts on this. As a TV viewer I don't mind the end result. As a citizen I think this is just another case of "nanny state".
Now let's turn down the volume of that annoying lady who is always talking too loud begging us for money on PBS shows...
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Posted by Ecstatic, a resident of the Menlo Park: Sharon Heights neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2012 at 9:01 pm Anna Eshoo getting this bill passed into law along with Kelly Fergusson being voted off the City Council is like Double Coupon Day for Menlo Park. My heartiest thanks to Anna Eshoo and Catherine Carlton. You two have gotten rid of two of the biggest annoyances in Menlo Park.
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Posted by POGO, a resident of the Woodside: other neighborhood, on Dec 15, 2012 at 9:15 am David B -
The "nanny state?" Seriously?
No one's asking anyone "to turn down the volume."
The law requires that the networks and providers honor the volume that I want and not to arbitrarily change it.
This is making others honor MY SETTING. If ever there were a case of NOT being the nanny state, this would be it.
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Posted by Steve, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Dec 15, 2012 at 3:05 pm [Post removed; stick to the topic and don't attack other posters.]
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