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NPR Finds XM's Achilles Heel
PreacherTom writes "In the ongoing radio wars, one only has to listen to 20 seconds of Howard Stern's language to know that the lack of regulation gives satellite radio a distinct advantage. Of all the challengers, it seems that NPR has finally found a weakness in XM, which supplements its satellite coverage with earth-bound transmitters. A recent test found that 19 of these transmitters were unlicensed and another 221 exceeded their authorized power level, giving NPR an opening to press with an apparently sympathetic FCC. It certainly doesn't help that XM's own filings support their case."
I have no problem with XM and Sirius doing what they do in terms of programming. But just as it is a subscriber's right to accept XM and/or Sirius service, it is other people's rights to not have their listening choices interfered with. The point of the article, and this discussion, is not about filth, trash, or the ears of the beholder, it is about deliberately interfering with signal already granted to surfaced-based broadcast media. It may very well be that the future is completely with satellite services, but until then the satellite servce companies DO NOT have a right to interfere with someone else's signal. So let's not redirect off the subject.
The FCC wasn't always that way, but in the last >3 decades it has completely abdicated responsibility for ensuring both access to the airwaves and breadth/diversity in programming.
My biggest point of disagreement is the assertion that radio is dead. Commercial radio has been effectively dead for years, i wish someone would finally pull the plug.But as someone who lives in a city with one of the oldest community-based FM stations in the country (KBOO in Portland, Oregon, second only to WBAI in NY and KPFA in SF), i'm convinced that community-based and community-oriented programming can make all the difference in a locale's sense of cohesion and identity, especially for groups underrepresented and underserved by Big Broadcast Corps (aka ClearChannel, merchant of blandness). Local news covered by local folks (unlike the local daily paper, which is owned by Gannett), and a full spectrum of music programming done by amateurs in the best sense of the word - lovers of the music. Can't beat it. Public-access cable fills a similar role, but has narrower reach.
iPod-toting techsters are still in a minority - a lot of people still listen to broadcast radio.