Summer Chaos Prompts NAB's Gordon Smith To Push FM Chips In Mobile Phones

Lobbying For FM Chips

The current heat wave and power outages across the country has spurred NAB Pres./CEO GORDON SMITH to send an open letter to FCC Chairman JULIUS GENACHOWSKI and lobby for the activation of FM chips in mobile phones.

"This weather emergency again highlights the fact that broadcasters' 'one-to-everyone' transmission architecture delivers a robust and reliable signal to hundreds of thousands of people simultaneously, with little or no risk of a service disruption," he wrote. "And that’s why NAB believes the time is right for a serious discussion about the voluntary activation of radio chips in mobile phones.

"In a time of deadly tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires, it just makes common sense to include a local, over-the-air radio feature in as many mobile devices as possible. Even FEMA administrator CRAIG FUGATE agrees that local radio and TV 'are going to probably be one of the best sources of information during the crunch time' of evacuation in a life or death situation."

Read the entire letter here.

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