H.R. 1084

H.R. 1084 is being considered on the floor under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This legislation was introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) on February 13, 2009. The Committee on Energy and Commerce approved the bill by voice vote on November 19, 2009.

H.R. 1084 would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt an industry-created standard capping the volume level of television commercials and equalizing the volume between advertisements and other television programming within one year. The regulations would take effect one year after adopted by the FCC. The bill would permit the FCC to grant a waiver for one year if a broadcast station, cable operator, or other multichannel video programming distributor could demonstrate a financial hardship, and the waiver could be renewed for one additional year.

Some television viewers have complained about volume fluctuations between a program and commercials shown during the program. Broadcasters and program producers currently have leeway on the volume levels used for advertisements, and the Federal Communications Commission does not currently regulate this issue.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementing H.R. 1084 would have no significant impact on the federal budget. However, the bill contains intergovernmental and private sector mandates by requiring television broadcast stations, cable operators, and other distributers of television programming to meet the proposed standard.