A proposed settlement to a long-running dispute over music royalties could include a federal mandate that all new cell phones and other wireless devices contain an FM radio tuner.
The proposal is now under discussion by radio broadcasters, recording labels and recording artists.
Although it is far from final — and would still need Congressional approval — the prospect that the government could dictate a key design decision for such a ubiquitous consumer device has alarmed electronics manufacturers and wireless providers.
Gary Shapiro, head of the Consumers Electronics Association, says Congress should reject “a back-room deal on how an iPhone should be designed. We think consumers should choose and companies should choose — not the Congress.”
An FM radio – are they serious? Why not something useful like a can opener?
Can openers are useful, for sure. But, music makes one’s heart sing! What could be better than that?
Try it, you might like it!
radio is an audio jungle for the ignorant masses.
i would not want a radio on my cell phone.
what a stupid idea.
i love listening to music on the radio. i listen everyday. i won’t buy a mobile device without fm radio tuner… i would welcome this change. and if you don’t use the radio, then thats your choice. but if you want the radio, and its not mandated, it probably won’t be there and you won’t have the choice to listen to fm radio on the go.
Duuuuuuuuude!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t get why cell phone makers are ‘alarmed’ that the government would require a feature on future phones. The government already requires dozens of features on cars (ABS, airbags, safety glass, etc.), and on countless other products.
Like it or not, we’ve reached a point in history where government is heavily into product design, and if they decide they want FM on cell phones, you can bet it will happen. The only question is will it be analog FM, or the new HD FM?
This is about licensing fees for ascap and bmi…
A cell phone needs an FM receiver like a fish needs a bicycle.
Ugh … honestly, if you have a smart phone …. there’s an app for that. Well kinda anyway. Clear offers an app for the BlackBerry, iPhone and Android platform for tons of there stations across the country. WHY would I really want an FM tuner on my phone? I don’t listen to it in my car, or at home already. If I want radio, I’ll put on the satellite tuner!
a lot of radio stations broadcast over the net. why cant we listen that way?
Bottom line, government wants to control everything. Somewhere some little fat, over paid government worker is trying to flex his/her authority…. Funny how they think, they know what we want.
Please no FM radio, no camera, no internet, no texting. I just want a cell phone not an entrtainment center.
FM radio would be great on my phone. I think government should make it law. Cell phone manufacturers are cheaping us out and making money by NOT including radios on our phones. I am glad the government is finally taking action and doing what is right. Do you think the government of Russia forces manufacturers to include radios? No, because they don’t care about their citizens or their corn, which the Indians called “maze”.
I don’t listen to FM. I would like AM instead.
Whether people want a radio on their cell phone is irrelevant.
How can the government possibly require something like this, when it all it does is benefit certain busiensses?
This isn’t a safety feature in any way, it is blatant pandering to corporations. I love the free market, but this is just wrong.
If you want an FM radio on your device, buy one with an FM radio. The idea that Congress would actually put a regulation like this in place is annoying at the least, and disturbing as well. Instead of wasting time with this kind of crap maybe our government should get back to work on the economy, unemployment, stimulating business, our economy, and arguing about health care.
Both mobile phones and FM use radio frequencies, all all such devices must be approved by the FCC. This offers more choice to the consumer, since FM radio is free, while streaming music uses cell phone bandwidth and usually requires a higher tier monthly fee or uses up your download limits. And the alternative of having FM universally available for free limits how much the phone carriers and music unions can charge.
All manufacturers will gripe about adding required features. The auto industry opposed seat belts for many years, claiming you would be safer in
a crash if “you are thrown free” (and through the windshield!)