FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has once again publicly called out Apple over not enabling FM radio chips in iPhones during recent natural disasters. Pai’s pointed statement follows the NAB renewing its own push for Apple to enable FM radio access on iPhones.
Pai says other companies have enabled life-saving FM radio access in smartphones during hurricanes and other natural disasters when cellular service is lost:
While the FCC isn’t forcing Apple to do anything, the language in the chairman’s request doesn’t hold back.
Chairman Pai’s statement comes on the same day as the NAB (via Bloomberg) similarly pushing for Apple to enable FM radio on iPhones:
While Apple isn’t commenting on the renewed requests, critics speculate that Apple’s thinking may be FM radio access would hurt its services business which includes Apple Music and streaming radio services over cellular.
In practice, FM radio access would likely still require a traditional antenna (the discontinued iPod nano featured FM radio access using the headphones as the antenna) and wouldn’t be as simple as just turning on the function.
Chairman Pai has said in the past that he doesn’t believe the FCC has the authority to enforce Apple enable the FM radio function in iPhones, but his language today shows he’s certainly willing to apply public pressure on Apple.
Via Broadcasting & Cable
What about LAA and Gigabit LTE? https://t.co/4bvR4wMYXz
— Walt Piecyk (@WaltBTIG) September 28, 2017
