The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says that FM on cell has near world-wide popularity and it’s a phenomenal safety device. And the only reason we don’t have it is to protect telecom streaming fees.
The paper wrote an editorial calling for activating the chips that are already available on most mobile phones.
“The little FM chips are a relatively inexpensive feature, and a very popular one in other markets around the world–particularly in poor and developing nations. So, to quote untold thousands of city editors over the years: Why we not have?” asked AD-G.
The paper answered its own question: “The answer is as simple as it is depressing. Wireless carriers also sell data plans to go with the mobile phones, and one of the ways customers use data is by listening to the radio via apps. Why should the carriers give you free access to content they could otherwise sell to you? They’d be leaving money on the table.”
The newspaper was enthusiastic about bringing a new updated version of the old transistor radio to the US, but that’s just part of it. “But there’s a more important reason to unlock all these FM chips. In the event of an emergency or natural disaster such as a tornado or hurricane, a radio can become a life-saving device, providing access to emergency information. And radio listening burns through less battery power than streaming–a recent study suggests the average smartphone battery lasts six times longer when it’s turned to a radio station as compared to streaming the same local station over a wireless data network.”
RBR+TVBR observation: It is good that this issue is beginning to come to the attention of the mainstream press, rather than just the trade press.
We have yet to see an impartial observer from the mainstream say anything remotely like keep the chips turned off.
It clearly makes sense to turn them on – points all over the globe provide evidence that FM on cell is popular, as do results being accumulated by NextRadio here in the US, despite telecom’s claim that turning on the chips would be tantamount to cramming FM down the throats of people who do not want it. Hey, if people don’t want it, they simply won’t use it. But at least they’ll have the choice.
Here’s what might happen: As awareness of the locked chips becomes more widespread, we will likely have a disaster during which FM on cell will come in very handy. But most people will not have it.
At that point, maybe somebody will haul some telecom representatives down to Capitol Hill to explain why this readily available safety tool is not available.
Maybe a particularly nasty hurricane, or a tornado, or an earthquake, or maybe even a man-made emergency will strike Washington DC itself and bring the matter to a head.
We would not want to be sitting in the hot seat and have to testify that the chips are turned off to “protect” consumers from an older audio medium – yes, Senator, we’re saving America from FM radio. Oh, and we need to protect our streaming fees.
