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.
If they can demand “mandatory radio” then it is not a stretch in our multimedia world to also require mandatory television.
The radio is being forced to compete with Pandora (Big Media is losing grip on the listening public) and so tv should be forced to compete with youtube.
The RIAA and MPAA are sometimes referred to as the MAFIAA — but that’s unfair to certain Sicilian gentlemen.
There has grown in the minds of certain groups in this country the idea that just because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with guaranteeing such a profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is supported by neither statute or common law. Neither corporations or individuals have the right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back. --Robert A. Heinlein, "Life-Line"
Can they use the same technology to create a TV remote that would let me zap the person on the screen if he starts spewing BS?
The government forces a manufacture to make a product. Yes sir! The Constitution is in shreds.
Rush is on FM in some places as well. Talk radio uses AM more because AM signals travel farther.
AM was considered “dead” and that is why talk radio thrived there, music largely went to FM (at least modern rock/county/pop did)
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.LOL!
Directive 10-289? And every radio will require a GM car.
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