June 17, 2009, - 12:44 pm
Another Urgent Priority of Congress
By Debbie Schlussel
America’s economy is in shambles. So is American society, with American kids lagging behind in achievement in science, math, and reading, and lagging ahead in illegitimate teen pregnancies.
But Members of Congress, like Democrat Anna Eshoo, have the solution to it all.
Some members of Congress want broadcasters to turn down the volume on television commercials.
A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D., Calif.) would require the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to “preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany.”
Broadcasters say they are addressing the problem already. . . . Rep. Eshoo’s bill could slow TV stations’ voluntary efforts to control commercial volumes because any FCC proceeding would generate debate and uncertainty.
Final review of an industry standard on commercial volume is expected in July, and broadcasters could begin implementing it by fall, he said.
Here’s a tip for Congresschick Eshoo: There’s this amazing new invention. It’s called a remote control. We’ve had it for several decades now. But maybe you haven’t heard.
Try one.
Of all of the problems facing America, she picks this one?
Priorities.
Commercials are hardly time wasters today. You can zip right through them. A federal law doesn’t need to fix what ain’t broken.
NormanF on June 17, 2009 at 1:18 pm