CALM Modernization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-1127
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2023-03-30
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2023-03-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-30
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Modernization Act of 2023 or the CALM Modernization Act of 2023</strong></p> <p>This bill applies certain requirements for moderating the volume of commercials to video streaming services that are supported by advertisements (e.g., Hulu). It also modifies enforcement of those requirements.</p> <p>Current law requires commercials transmitted via broadcast, cable, and satellite television to have the same average volume as the underlying programming. Under this bill, the Federal Communications Commission must apply through rulemaking similar requirements to ad-supported video streaming services.</p> <p>The bill also modifies enforcement of requirements for moderating the volume of commercials. The commission currently uses a complaint-driven enforcement process. Under this bill, the commission must treat violations of the requirements as violations of the Communications Act of 1934. Additionally, the bill makes rebuttable a presumption that deems a broadcast television station, cable operator, or other multichannel video programming distributor in compliance with the requirements if it appropriately installs and uses certain equipment and software to moderate the volume of commercials.</p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must report on the effectiveness of the requirements, and the commission's enforcement of them, in moderating the volume of commercials.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1127 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 30, 2023 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Ms. Duckworth , and Mr. Blumenthal ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend the CALM Act to include video streaming services, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Modernization Act of 2023 or the CALM Modernization Act of 2023 . 2. Modernization of the CALM act and rulemaking on loud commercials on streaming video (a) Amendments The CALM Act ( Public Law 111–311 ; 124 Stat. 3294) is amended— (1) in section 2 ( 47 U.S.C. 621 )— (A) by striking Federal Communications Commission each place the term appears and inserting Commission ; (B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) Compliance (1) Rebuttable presumption There is a rebuttable presumption that any television broadcast station, cable operator, or other multichannel video programming distributor that installs, uses, and maintains in a commercially reasonable manner the equipment and associated software in compliance with the regulations issued by the Commission in accordance with subsection (a) is in compliance with those regulations. (2) Factors to determine rebuttal In determining whether the presumption of compliance under paragraph (1) has been rebutted with respect to a television broadcast station, cable operator, or other multichannel video programming distributor, the Commission shall consider the following: (A) The number of complaints regarding loud commercials the Commission has received with respect to that station, operator, or other distributor. (B) Substantive patterns or trends from complaints on loud commercials the Commission has received. (C) Data and conclusions in any report issued by a Federal agency (including the Government Accountability Office) regarding the effectiveness of this Act in moderating the loudness of commercials in comparison with accompanying video programming. (D) Any other factor established by the Commission by regulation. ; and (C) in subsection (d)— (i) by redesignating paragraph (1) as paragraph (3) and moving it to appear after paragraph (2); (ii) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking ; and at the end and inserting a period; (iii) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (1); (iv) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated— (I) by striking multi-channel and inserting multichannel ; and (II) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (v) by inserting after paragraph (1), as so redesignated, the following: (2) the term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission; and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: 3. Rulemaking on loud commercials on streaming video (a) Rulemaking required for loud streaming video commercials (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall prescribe pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ) a regulation that prohibits video streaming services from transmitting the audio of commercial advertisements louder than the video content the advertisements accompany in a manner that is similar in effect to the regulation prescribed under section 2. (2) Rebuttable presumption In prescribing the regulation under paragraph (1), the Commission may include a rebuttable presumption provision that is similar to the rebuttable presumption under section 2(c) if it is practicable and warranted for effective enforcement of this section. (3) Effective date Except as provided in paragraph (4), the regulation required under paragraph (1) shall take effect 180 days after the date on which the regulation is published in the Federal Register. (4) Extension of effective date The Commission may extend the effective date described in paragraph (3) for 1 year for any video streaming service that demonstrates that complying with the regulation would result in significant financial hardship. (5) Updates The Commission shall update the regulation prescribed under paragraph (1) as necessary. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Commission The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission. (2) Video programming The term video programming has the meaning given the term in section 713(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 613(h) ). (3) Video streaming service The term video streaming service — (A) means an entity that makes available directly to the end user through a distribution method that uses internet protocol— (i) video programming; or (ii) video content the entity makes available for users to view; and (B) does not include— (i) a television broadcast station, cable operator, or other multichannel video programming distributor (as those terms are defined in section 2(d)), only with respect to commercial advertisements and video programming subject to section 2; or (ii) an entity that serves video programming or video content that is served without video commercial advertisements. 4. Enforcement (a) In general The Federal Communications Commission shall implement and enforce this Act as if this Act were a part of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. ). (b) Violations A violation of this Act, or a regulation promulgated under this Act, shall be considered to be a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, or a regulation promulgated under that Act, respectively. (c) No citation required Paragraph (5) of section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 503(b) ) shall not apply to a determination of forfeiture liability under that subsection against a person who commits a violation described in subsection (b) of this section. . (b) GAO report on CALM Act enforcement (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on section 2 of the CALM Act ( 47 U.S.C. 621 ), as amended by subsection (a), that— (A) analyzes the effectiveness of that section in moderating the loudness of commercials in comparison to accompanying video programming; (B) evaluates the ability of the Federal Communications Commission to effectively moderate the loudness of commercials in comparison to accompanying video programming under subsection (c) of that section; and (C) as appropriate, recommends policy solutions that would enable better moderation of the loudness of commercials in comparison to accompanying video programming. (2) Video programming defined In this subsection, the term video programming has the meaning given the term in section 713(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 613(h) ).