Turn It Down Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7308
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-20T18:03:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Turn It Down Act" (H.R. 7308) aims to extend existing rules on commercial advertisement volume to video content delivered over the internet, preventing ads from being louder than the surrounding programming. This builds on the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which already applies to traditional TV broadcasts and cable services.
Key Provisions
- Regulatory Requirement: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must create a new rule within 18 months of the bill's enactment to apply volume limits to ads in internet protocol (IP)-delivered video programming. These limits must be "substantially equivalent" to those for TV broadcasts, cable operators, and other multichannel video providers.
- Definition of Video Programming: The term covers content similar to traditional TV programming (e.g., shows from broadcast stations) but excludes user-created content like personal videos.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the CALM Act (47 U.S.C. 621) by adding a new section (Section 3) that explicitly extends its scope to IP-delivered video, which was not previously covered.
- Shifts from broadcast and cable-specific rules to include digital streaming, requiring the FCC to enforce equivalent standards under the broader Communications Act of 1934.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The FCC will need to develop and enforce new regulations, potentially increasing its oversight of online video platforms.
- On Citizens: Viewers of streaming services (e.g., Netflix, Hulu) may experience more consistent and less disruptive ad volumes, reducing sudden loudness changes during online video watching.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though U.S.-based streaming companies operating globally might need to adjust ad practices to comply with U.S. rules for domestic content.
- No notable effects on physical infrastructure or other sectors.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Consumers: Primary beneficiaries, gaining protection from overly loud online ads.
- Streaming and Video Providers: Companies delivering IP video (e.g., online platforms, app-based services) must implement technical adjustments to meet volume standards.
- Advertisers: May need to modify ad production or delivery to avoid penalties for non-compliance.
- FCC and Regulators: Responsible for rulemaking, monitoring, and enforcement.
- Traditional Broadcasters and Cable Operators: Indirectly affected, as the bill promotes uniformity across media types.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces FCC authority over digital media under existing communications laws, potentially setting a precedent for regulating emerging technologies like streaming without needing entirely new legislation. Compliance could involve technical standards for audio processing.
- Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment limits by regulating only commercial speech (ads), not creative content, avoiding challenges to free expression.
- Political: Addresses a common consumer complaint about ad loudness in a digital age, bridging analog and online media rules; may encourage further updates to outdated telecom laws as streaming grows dominant.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-02-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Turn It Down Act — issued 2026-02-02 — PDF (2 pages)