[blueash]

Originally Posted by ugotme

I may be wrong but . . .

It is my understanding that the ads can be no louder than the show. However, I believe this is not only the spoken word BUT the music.

Therefore if ANY part of the music is loud that is the level that the commercials can be up to. This may not give us as much relief as we might like.

We shall see.

Here is the rule:
"the FCC's rules require television commercial advertisements to have the same average volume as the programs that they accompany.The FCC's new rules require TV stations, cable operators, satellite TV operators and other pay TV providers to limit a commercial's average volume to that of the programming that it accompanies. A commercial may have louder and quieter moments, but, overall, it should be no louder than the surrounding programming."

Seems clear to me that the words average and overall would cover your concern that all they need to do is match the loudest sound in the programming.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Mack184

There is a percentage of deviation that is allowed, (I think) it's +/- 5%. With that said, the complainant is going to have to have PROOF. Accurate documentation. You cannot just say that some commercial that ran on "X" show at 8pm on NBC was too loud. You will have to have the CORRECT name of the advertiser, the EXACT time that it aired and the EXACT date for the FCC to even consider your complaint. You will also be asked to provide RECORDED PROOF of your complaint if the FCC accepts your complaint. (this info comes courtesy of the Association of Broadcasters)

Again, you cannot merely call up & gripe. You MUST have adequate PROOF before your complaint will even be considered. This is just like accusing someone of a crime. No proof..no crime. AND..if your complaint is accepted, then the TV/Radio station/Network/Cable Company that you complain about has the right to refute your complaint in a formal FCC proceeding.

Look at the complaint form available from the above link and repeated here:
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/f...orm_type=2000G

The form requires information on what channel, what time, the ID of the advertiser, whether over the air, cable, or satellite. Obviously they need this to investigate. There is absolutely nothing about needing any recording from the consumer. And they do not require PROOF. You are filing a complaint, you give information, the FCC investigates and gathers "proof" based on the information you provide. Your complaint will always be accepted and of course the broadcaster is given an opportunity to contest your claim. We all will have to wait to see what the outcome of complaints may be. It may well be that now that there is a law the broadcasters will utilize the technology available to not blast commercials. I hope there are no complaints ever needed.

I cannot find an organization named "association of broadcasters" but there is the NAB Nationalal Association of Broadcasters. Their website tells broadcasters how to comply including details on equipment to use, decible levels etc. That document is at :
http://www.nab.org/documents/resourc...tPractices.pdf
I see nothing on their website about the consumer needing to provide recorded proof, and if it were there it would be incorrect.