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CALM Modernization Act of 2022
12/30/2022, 12:04 AM
Summary of Bill HR 7703
The CALM Act was designed to regulate the volume of television commercials, ensuring that they are not significantly louder than the programs they accompany. However, with the rise of streaming services and new technologies, there is a need to update the legislation to address these changes.
The CALM Modernization Act of 2022 aims to expand the scope of the original CALM Act to cover not only traditional television broadcasts, but also streaming services and other digital platforms. This would ensure that viewers are not subjected to excessively loud commercials regardless of how they are consuming content. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to improve enforcement mechanisms and increase penalties for violations of the CALM Act. This is intended to hold broadcasters and advertisers accountable for complying with the volume regulations set forth in the legislation. Overall, the CALM Modernization Act of 2022 seeks to bring the CALM Act up to date with current technology and viewing habits, while also strengthening enforcement measures to better protect consumers from overly loud commercials.
Congressional Summary of HR 7703
Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Modernization Act of 2022 or the CALM Modernization Act of 2022
This bill applies certain requirements concerning the volume of commercials to video streaming services that are supported by advertisements (e.g., Hulu). It also modifies enforcement related to those requirements.
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.
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.
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.
