"Wireless Industry Behavior Puts Lives in Danger"

6-6-2012

 "The Future of Audio" hearing was the perfect outlet for Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan to push out his message of safety and take issue with the way the wireless industry has frustrated his efforts. The wireless industry has never bought into Smulyan's safety angle but that didn't deter him yesterday. He told lawmakers a 90 character text based alert system is no comparison to local radio?s role as "a lifeline service during times of crisis" and again emphasized that broadcasters are not looking for Congress to mandate the chips into phones.
Smulyan said Americans deserve better choices and should be free to choose mobile phones with activated radio chips." He also took this hearing as an opportunity to point out that even when the chips are available cell phone salespeople and consumers really have no idea. "It is needlessly difficult for consumers to identify the few device models that do include activated radio chips. Radio is not typically featured, or even listed, as an available search option on wireless carriers? phone purchasing websites. Verizon?s website, for example, allows consumers to research phones by selecting and searching for any combination of 18 various features; however, Verizon does not include free, over-the-air radio on that long list of features. The story is the same at mobile phone retail stores, where radio is rarely indicated as an available feature on the display cards for mobile devices. In-store salespersons and telephone customer service representatives are largely unaware as to which of their own devices are radio-enabled. Indeed, while they are often surprised to learn that a particular phone is equipped to receive free, over-the-air radio, they are clearly aware of, and able to inform consumers about, streaming, data-based radio apps, like Pandora.com. Some industry experts observe that mobile phone providers would rather reap the revenue of data-intensive, fee-based streaming apps than offer consumers a free and local audio alternative."

Smulyan says the way the wireless industry is acting prevents consumers from a choice and puts them in danger. "The control of U.S. wireless carriers over the manufacture of mobile devices ultimately results in consumers being unable to access radio?s free, local news, information and entertainment programming via their mobile phones. More seriously, this lack of access could jeopardize the lives and property of Americans by restricting the availability of critical information during emergencies. Including and activating radio chips in mobile phone devices, and making them widely available to consumers, would substantially increase the accessibility of important emergency information, and keep Americans safer."

(6/7/2012 10:18:47 PM)
If radio in phones is such a great thing, why isn't this man manufacturing and selling phones with the chip? My phone does have it, and let me tell you, unless you're at the transmitter, it's useless without a headset. It needs the headset to act as an antenna.
(6/7/2012 10:13:43 AM)
I'm surprised he didn't say that all radio-people are dedicated to the premise of widespread, consistent community service. Something along the lines of: "Me an' my boys here are all onside with this."

But then he couldn't, now, could he? He would turn to look and gesture behind himself only to find he was alone.

(6/7/2012 7:51:59 AM)
Smulyan is such a joke an liar. This is all about getting HD Radio chipsets backdoored into cell phones. Big Group Radio and the NAB are investors in iBiquity's junk-technology.

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Dashboard Danger. Government to The Rescue?

6-7-2012

The Government may be coming along just in time to save AM/FM radio from becoming extinct from the automobile dashboard. During a panel at Convergence, moderated by Greater Media's Buzz Knight, several automakers emphasized how important the safety issue was. They appeared concerned that the government might step in if it appeared the dashboard was becoming more of distraction. Well, on Thursday, Transportation Secratary Ray LaHood (pictured) held a press conference and hinted regulators may draft specific guidelines regarding an automobile's infotainment system. He called texting and cellphone use "a national epidemic."

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported that 3,092 people were killed in crashes related to driver distraction in 2010. Lahood said, ?Americans have gotten into very dangerous behavior with their cell phones and their texting devices to think they can use them behind the wheel of a car. People continue to be killed and injured despite the fact these deaths are 100 percent preventable. I?ve met with every car executive and talked with them about what they can do to help us with technology they?re putting in cars that may become a distraction to drivers. We hope to examine voice commands for hands-free functions too.?

Consumer demand is forcing automakers to develop dashboard systems that are an extension o their smartphones. In the current issue of Radio Ink magazine, Vice President of Advanced Technology at Toyota Jon Bucci said Toyota puts a lot of stock in what customers tell them.

"Toyota's view is that the voice of the consumer is critical. Basically, what we are getting is, 'Give us choice, let us make the decision. Don't stand in the way.' We are taking it a step further, to try to curate the environment so whatever we're pulling from the customers phone can be displayed in a manner fitting for a moving vehicle."

LaHood says, ?We want to make sure they understand that the ability to download Facebook, the ability to access information while you?re driving the car is not exactly a safe way to drive. There have to be ways for car companies to address these issues. I?ve met with every car executive and talked with them about what they can do to help us with technology they?re putting in cars that may become a distraction to drivers.?

Earlier this year, the Transportation Department issued voluntary guidelines, recommending that no task for drivers take longer than two seconds, and that cars be stopped and in park before drivers can enter navigation commands or use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The chance anyone even knew about those voluntary guidelines is slim to none. Just take a look at passing cars every day on the streets of America. Not to mention, it's virtually impossible to even scan for your favorite radio station in two seconds or less. LaHood is also calling on the 11 states that have not banned texting and driving to do so.

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