Every week, 2,000 - 3,000 Second District residents write to me about the issues pending before Congress, and I work hard to respond to each person as promptly and thoughtfully as possible. On this "Letter of the Week" blog, I highlight constituent letters that are of general interest. If you'd like to share your own views, please feel free to e-mail me at any time!

Dear Nancy,

As a consumer who does not enjoy being blasted by noise, I urge
you to vote for Rep. Anna Eshoo's Commercial Advertisement
Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM Act).

When scheduled television programming switches to commercials,
viewers can experience a "perceived loudness" that makes them
dive for the volume control on their remotes. Also, advertisers
often use the loudest settings in their audio file to get
viewers' attention, making the average volume in some
commercials higher than that in regular programming.

In fact, the FCC has received a significant number of complaints
about the blast of sound resulting from some transitions to
commercials. This jarring transition and generally loud
commercials are totally unnecessary and could be easily fixed.
The FCC should take action to make sure viewers are never
subjected to such harshness.

The CALM Act would direct the FCC to regulate advertisers to
smooth loud or loud-seeming transitions and refrain from making
their commercials "excessively noisy or strident." Specifically,
it would require advertisements to be no louder than the
television material that precedes it. The bill would also give
technical experts at the FCC room to make wise, science-based
decisions on volume standards for television advertisements.

Even Adonis Hoffman, senior vice president and general counsel
of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, can see the
potential in this legislation. Hoffman has said, "Perhaps the
most practical solution is to rely on the judgment of the
technical and engineering experts at the FCC to determine an
acceptable sound range or standard for commercials and content
alike."

You will do viewers a small but significant service if you vote
for the CALM Act. As television programming is going digital,
the resulting wider range of volume will lead to commercials
with even higher peak volumes. Don't let the problem get worse:
please vote "yes" on this timely legislation to reduce jarring
volumes in television commercials.

Steven from Manhattan, KS.

Dear Steven,

Thank you for taking the time to share your support for H.R. 6209, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (CALM Act).

Excessively loud television commercials are annoying and drive families away from quality programming. That is why I have chosen to co-sponsor H.R. 6209, CALM Act. This bill, when enacted, will require the Federal Communication Commission to enforce programming to reduce modulation, standardize excessive loudness and require all advertisements to be substantially lower than the programming it accompanies. I believe this bill is a common sense approach to a problem that plagues individuals across the nation and will create a more enjoyable television experience.

As your representative and a mother, I understand that family time is often limited and the time spent together might be at the dinner table, in front of the TV or at church on Sundays. With such limited time and our busy schedules, I think we would all welcome eliminating the effects of loud commercials. Thank you for contacting me. I hope you will continue to keep in touch and let me know whenever I may of future assistance.

Very truly yours, 

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress