CALM Act

Bill: 111-hr-1084
Sponsor: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2009-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Marketing and advertising
Noise pollution
Television and film

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: 
Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe a regulation prohibiting advertisements accompanying video programming from: (1) being excessively noisy or strident; (2) having modulation levels substantially higher than the accompanying program; and (3) having an average maximum loudness substantially higher than that of the accompanying program.

action_date: 2009-12-15
text: 
Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act or the CALM Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe a regulation that is limited to incorporating by reference, and making mandatory, the Recommended Practice: Techniques for Establishing and Maintaining Audio Loudness for Digital Television approved by the Advanced Television Systems Committee, so far as the recommended practice concerns the transmission of commercial advertisements by a television broadcast station, cable operator, or other multichannel video programming distributor. 
 
Allows the FCC to waive the regulation if obtaining the equipment to comply would result in financial hardship. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-12-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H14907-14908)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H14907-14908)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1084.
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H14907-14910)
action_date: 2009-12-15
text: Mr. Boucher moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 219.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 111-374.
action_date: 2009-12-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 111-374.
action_date: 2009-11-19
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2009-11-19
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-06-11
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-02-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-02-13
text: Introduced in House