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Deal Would Mandate FM Radios In Cell Phones - agreement between NAB/RIAA headed to Congress
Information Week ^ | August 23, 2010 02:13 PM | W. David Gardner

Posted on 08/23/2010 2:08:49 PM PDT by a fool in paradise

There may be an FM radio in your next cell phone whether you want it or not. The National Association of Broadcasters is lobbying Congress to stipulate that FM radio technology be included in future cell phones. In exchange, the NAB has agreed that member stations would pay about $100 million in so-called performance fees to music labels and artists. Radio stations would be required to pay performance royalties on a tiered schedule with larger commercial stations paying more than smaller and non-profit stations.

The agreement is part of a compromise between the NAB and the Recording Industry Association of America, which will take the deal to legislators mulling changes to the laws that govern the music and radio industries. Under the proposal, non-profit stations and small commercial stations with less than $50,000 in annual revenue would pay $100 or 1% of revenue, whichever is the lesser amount. On the other end of the spectrum, stations with more than $1.25 million in annual revenue would pay 1% of their revenue.

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The fees haven’t been approved yet and there is no guarantee the proposal will pass in this session of Congress, or even in any session.

“It is important to note that stations with incidental music use – news, talk and sports radio – would not pay for music,” said NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton earlier this month in a statement.

“Additionally, religious services – not religious music – would be exempt from music fees.” Broadcasters have also argued that FM radio access on cell phones would have public safety benefits by alerting and informing citizens in crisis situations.

Online radio already is required to pay performance fees and many online music providers have said the fees caused them to abandon their service or sharply curtail it.

The proposed legislation would require all future cell phones to include an FM chip – representing an estimated cost of about $1 for each chip. Although most cell phone manufacturers oppose being mandated to supply FM chips, many cell phones already include FM chips.

A coalition of six technology industry associations announced their opposition to the “chip mandate” on Monday. “Calls for an FM chip mandate are not about public safety but are instead about propping up a business which consumers are abandoning as they avail themselves of new, more consumer-friendly options,” according to a coalition statement.

The coalition consists of the CTIA – the Wireless Association, the Consumer Electronics Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, the Rural Cellular Association, TechAmerica and the Telecommunications Industry Association.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: bigmedia; cellphones; musicindustry; riaa
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1 posted on 08/23/2010 2:08:56 PM PDT by a fool in paradise
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To: 537cant be wrong; Aeronaut; bassmaner; Bella_Bru; Big Guy and Rusty 99; Brian Allen; cgk; ...

Music PING


2 posted on 08/23/2010 2:10:11 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Those who support the construction of the WTC mosque oppose Christian missionaries working abroad.)
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To: a fool in paradise

Is not the US Federal government’s only role to
FORCE the citizens to buy selected products?

It certainly is NOT protecting the US border.


3 posted on 08/23/2010 2:10:51 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: a fool in paradise

transmitter as well, no doubt.


4 posted on 08/23/2010 2:11:49 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (make something or die.)
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To: a fool in paradise

In “crisis situations” I wouldn’t plan on relying on cell service. Anyway, stupid idea.


5 posted on 08/23/2010 2:12:29 PM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
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To: a fool in paradise

Why in the world would I want to listen to FM radio on my phone?

Let’s just cut to the chase and GIVE RIAA the cash, and leave cell phones alone.

I guess once they get the idea that they can mandate sales from the Federal level it starts to look good in other arenas.


6 posted on 08/23/2010 2:13:28 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: a fool in paradise

I’m sorry. You’ve reached a number that is disconnected or no longer in service. If you would like to listen to some soothing FM music while you ponder your next move, please press 1.


7 posted on 08/23/2010 2:14:09 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Obama: Epic Fail or Bust!!!)
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To: a fool in paradise

Once had a phone with an FM radio.

Utterly useless. It only worked with a wired earphone that was both the source of sound and the antenna. The only use for a radio like this is for talk radio and ballgames, yet those are all on AM.


8 posted on 08/23/2010 2:14:48 PM PDT by MediaMole
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To: a fool in paradise

Yet another pass-thru cost aimed at us for a service we don’t particularly want. That poor, tortured Commerce Clause ...


9 posted on 08/23/2010 2:15:31 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Obama suffers from decision-deficit disorder." Oliver North 6/25/10)
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To: a fool in paradise

This is patently absurd.


10 posted on 08/23/2010 2:18:40 PM PDT by RobRoy (The US Today: Revelation 18:4)
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To: a fool in paradise
Buggy whip manufacturers demand that cars be steered and braked with leather reins and accelerated with a whip applied to the hood.
11 posted on 08/23/2010 2:20:34 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Gun control was originally to protect Klansmen from their victims. The basic reason hasn't changed.)
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To: DBrow

All I listen to is AM.
If they put AM on my phone, which has an S9 bluetooth, I would love it.

FM doesn’t have Rush or Levin.


12 posted on 08/23/2010 2:20:34 PM PDT by netmilsmom (I am inyenzi on the Religion Forum)
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To: Diogenesis

Too much government interference and a dereliction of duty when it comes to addressing border secuity and permitting a Gulf oil spill to be cleaned up.

Then again, there was deliberate willful neglect in the banking crisis as well.


13 posted on 08/23/2010 2:21:10 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (Those who support the construction of the WTC mosque oppose Christian missionaries working abroad.)
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To: MediaMole

While the idea of forcing FM chips into cell phones is ridiculous, you’re wrong about it being useless. My current (and previous) phone has an FM chip which I use everyday at work to listen to a DC sports talk station (106.7). If I get bored listening to the radio, I use it as an mp3 player. I can also use the SlingPlayer on it to watch TV.

While you may not use it, lots of people like me consider it a useful feature.


14 posted on 08/23/2010 2:23:59 PM PDT by Echo4C (We have it in our power to begin the world over again. --Thomas Paine)
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To: a fool in paradise
I think all cell phones should be required to have a built in set of scales to weigh fish.


15 posted on 08/23/2010 2:26:33 PM PDT by capt. norm (Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.)
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To: a fool in paradise
there is no guarantee the proposal will pass in this session of Congress, or even in any session.

There needs to be a guarantee that this proposal will never pass in any session of Congress. It's outrageous that lobbyists think this is the sort of thing Congress should be legislating, and beyond parody that we have to worry about Congress actually doing it.
16 posted on 08/23/2010 2:26:53 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: a fool in paradise

Mandatory FM? Adding to the cost of my phone, and my phone bills?

Next thing is some lawyer-legislator will introduce a bill allowing it to be treated as a “public utility” and to add fees.

Your school district, city, county and state will add a “FM Radio-Cell Phone Surcharge”

But what if I prefer AM radio? Prefer Satellite radio? Prefer short wave radio? Prefer no radio?

Freedom. Freedom from paying for things I don’t want or use.


17 posted on 08/23/2010 2:27:41 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: a fool in paradise
I would like a cell phone with a built in electric zapper, but it would zap the person on the other end of the call, especially telemarketers.


18 posted on 08/23/2010 2:32:04 PM PDT by capt. norm (Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.)
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To: truth_seeker
Mandatory FM? Adding to the cost of my phone, and my phone bills?

They got away with getting the FM requirement for car radios and UHF became required for all TVs years ago.

They are practicing the liberal art of incrementalism.

19 posted on 08/23/2010 2:34:29 PM PDT by capt. norm (Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.)
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To: Echo4C
While you may not use it, lots of people like me consider it a useful feature.

That's not the issue.

FM chips are fine. But if the government requires them, then I would like to see the broadcasting industry go bankrupt.

20 posted on 08/23/2010 2:39:18 PM PDT by cynwoody
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