Q&A on the News

Q: I thought the commercials were supposed to be no louder than the other television programming. It does not seem to have happened. Has it gone into affect?

—Martha Hunt, Hoschton

A: The Federal Communications Commission's Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which states that TV commercials must have the same average volume as the programs they accompany, went into effect on Dec. 13. "A commercial may have louder and quieter moments, but, overall, it should be no louder than the surrounding programming. This may mean, however, that some commercials will comply with the new rules, but still sound 'too loud' to some viewers," the FCC states on its website. To register a complaint, go to www.fcc.gov/complaints and click on "Complaint Type" button labeled "Broadcast (TV and Radio), Cable, and Satellite Issues" and hit next. Then click on the category button "Loud Commercials" and hit next. This will direct you to file the online "Form 2000G – Loud Commercial Complaint." For assistance in filing a complaint, call 888-225-5322.

Q: At the beginning of “Zero Dark Thirty,” there are recordings that are from the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Are these genuine or were they composed by the writers?

—Joni Pelta, Atlanta

A: Those are recordings of the real phone calls from passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked and crashed in western Pennsylvania, and from people trapped in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, according to published reports. The audio also includes news reports from that day. "Zero Dark Thirty" is nominated for Best Picture this year.