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NAB, RIAA May Seek Mandate For FM Radios In Mobile Devices

Trintech writes with this quote from an article at Ars Technica: "Music labels and radio broadcasters can't agree on much, including whether radio should be forced to turn over hundreds of millions of dollars a year to pay for the music it plays. But the two sides can agree on this: Congress should mandate that FM radio receivers be built into cell phones, PDAs, and other portable electronics. The Consumer Electronics Association, whose members build the devices that would be affected by such a directive, is incandescent with rage. 'The backroom scheme of the [National Association of Broadcasters] and RIAA to have Congress mandate broadcast radios in portable devices, including mobile phones, is the height of absurdity,' thundered CEA president Gary Shapiro. Such a move is 'not in our national interest.' 'Rather than adapt to the digital marketplace, NAB and RIAA act like buggy-whip industries that refuse to innovate and seek to impose penalties on those that do.' But the music and radio industries say it's a consumer-focused proposition, one that would provide 'more music choices.'"

8 of 489 comments (clear)

  1. Sure and maybe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Candles should be built into all light bulbs

    1. Re:Sure and maybe by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Funny

      Buggy whips obligatory with all new cars?

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      No sig today...
  2. Re:It must be my age.. by will_die · · Score: 3, Funny

    A cell phone with a built in easy-bake oven!!!!!
    Where do I get it?
    Besides where is the love for AM radio.

  3. Re:It must be my age.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your phone will vacuum? My kids won't even do that!

  4. Re:Consumer Focus or Consumer Manipulation? by NotBornYesterday · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sir, I am outraged, OUTRAGED, that you oppose consumer choice like FM radio in cell phones, mandatory 78 rpm record players in CD players, and of course the ever-popular integrated 35mm film projector and DVD player.

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    I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.
  5. Re:It must be my age.. by dangitman · · Score: 3, Funny

    but I bought my phone to make phone calls?!?

    Well, I bought my phone so I could make a phone call to tell you to get off my lawn.

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    ... and then they built the supercollider.
  6. Re:Consumer Focus or Consumer Manipulation? by Dishevel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Impossible! People have no power over their own lives. They need organizations and government protections to thrive. Only through rules, regulations, laws, taxes, unions, corporations and big government can people be expected to be well.

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    Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
  7. Re:Consumer Focus or Consumer Manipulation? by Stewie241 · · Score: 3, Funny

    We don't NEED no steenking rock stars.

    But then who would do benefit concerts for the environment, G8, aids, etc etc?