SR0621 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0621 LRB096 19939 KXB 35415 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Communications Act of 1934 provides authority for the Federal Communications Commission to make rules and regulations regarding audio loudness for television; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the United States has passed H.R. 1084, the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, in the 111th Congress, requiring the FCC to make rules and regulations to prescribe a standard to preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany; and

WHEREAS, The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), an international, non-profit organization that develops voluntary standards for digital television, has made specific recommendations on establishing and maintaining audio loudness; and

WHEREAS, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has adopted many ATSC standards as FCC rules; and

WHEREAS, These rules will benefit the State of Illinois by providing uniform regulations for all broadcasters that operate in the United States; and

WHEREAS, These rules will make standards that create a level playing field for advertisers creating content for commercial broadcasts; and

WHEREAS, These standards provide for a more enjoyable aural experience for the people of the State of Illinois when watching commercial broadcasts; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage and support action by the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to require the Federal Communications Commission to make rules precluding commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than their accompanying program material; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent to President Barack Obama, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, and to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.