Wave Broadband has begun to deploy gear and software from Tektronix that will enable the operator to comply with the Commercial Advertising Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act.
The FCC began to enforce the CALM Act on December 13, 2011, requiring that video service providers take measures to ensure that commercials are no louder than the programs they accompany. Large operators had a year to comply, while smaller ones, such as Wave, were given two years.
Wave, an operator serving more than 400,000 subs on the west coast, has begun its compliance program by deploying Tektronix’s Sentry Assure platform in three of its cable networks. Wave is using the platform to monitor and document the loudness of commercials that accompany the programs.
“Sentry Assure not only enables us to identify these ads so their volume can be lowered, but it also has all the database and reporting capabilities we need to fully comply with the CALM Act’s requirements,” said Wave EVP of broadband services Klinefelter, in a statement.
“With the CALM Act now being enforced, ear-splitting ads have gone from being nuisance to a potentially serious business issue because all it takes is one disgruntled subscriber alerting the FCC to every loud ad to create a lot of trouble. Smart operators like Wave Broadband are not sitting on the sidelines, but actively deploying solutions to come into compliance,” added Eben Jenkins, Tektronix’s general manager, video product line.
According to the FCC’s quarterly report on the act issued last November, complaints were down 53% versus the previous reporting period, to 3,501.
