A couple days ago a loyal reader noticed that all Sirius plug-and-play units were being listed as "out of stock" on Sirius' online store. Not sure if this was a glitch or a restocking issue, I held back from jumping to any conclusions. Yesterday, GSI had gotten word that Sirius units were actually pulled because the radios are getting a retool over FCC transmitter issues. Following a possible FCC inquiry, Sirius will most likely be shipping receivers with weaker FM transmitters in the near future.

The timing behind this is impecible.

Sirius appears to have pulled the units almost immediately after the NAB's FM modulator report was submitted to the FCC. In the NAB report (which you can view here - PDF), only two satellite radios were included in the tests - the Sirius S50 and the Sirius Sportster Replay. Looks like the NAB is done with XM and has now set their sites on Sirius.

In the report, the Sirius S50 and Sportster Replay were found to have two "violations" - one being that the FM antenna did not comply with FCC antenna requirements and the second being that they exceeded transmission levels.

Here's the breakdown (because the report is a snooze-fest):

• The FCC limit for FM transmitter emissions is something like 48dBuV/m.
• The Sirius S50 came in at an average of 74.7dBuV/m.
• The Sirius Sportster 4 came in at an average of 74.8dBuV/m.

(Interestingly enough, the NAB results contradict reports that the Sportster 4 has a weak FM transmitter.)

UPDATE: The NAB tested the previous generation Sportster Replay SPTK2, not the Sportster 4 as previously stated.

Even with a vehicle's insultating properties, the Sirius S50 still came in at an average of 56.7dBuV/m.

So what about the antennas? Apparently the supplied antenna is only a #20 guage wire (which is a no-no for some reason). Also the Sirius antenna connectors consist of a standard 2.5mm audio connector, and that violates the FCC requirement that the connector be a unique connector. The whole intent of this requirement is to prevent the use of an antenna that can be used to boost the signal beyond required emission levels.

[GSI]
[View the NAB Report] (PDF)
Thanks tim!

Just as we thought, the NAB stirred the FM Modulator pot with their own testing so they could go crying to the FCC. Surprise surprise. This from Billboard Radio Monitor:

[...] NAB spokesperson Dennis Wharton says, “Our tests showed that 13 of the 17 wireless devices (76%) exceeded field strength limits set by the FCC. Six of those devices exceeded the FCC field limit by 2,000%. One device transmitted a signal that was 20,000% stronger than allowed by FCC rules. Many of the devices also transmitted signals that were substantially wider in bandwidth than permitted by the FCC, resulting in potential interference to 1st and 2nd adjacent channels as well.”

The NAB has sent letters to both FCC chairman Kevin Martin as well as Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Stevens and co-chairman Daniel Inouye notifying them of the results.

If they spent this much time on creating innovative programming, they'd have masterpieces.

The CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) posted an advertisement in a Capitol Hill publication urging legislators to oppose restrictions on satellite radio. The ad pulls no punches, highlighting some of the self-benefitting dreck that the RIAA, MPAA and ASCAP have spouting over the past. century.

 

View the full ad here (PDF) 

Let's hope this makes a difference. Emailing your local Congressmen will definitely help make a difference. And with mid-term elections right around the corner, perhaps we should keep a tally of those who supported anti-satellite radio (and anti-fair use) legislation?

[via Ars Technica] 

XM Radio is enlisting the help of their subscriber base in the war against anti-satellite radio legislation with an open letter to subscribers. In it XM states:

... the big record labels want more—so they are suing XM and pressuring Congress to pass legislation that would make it tougher for satellite radio to bring you new technology and more music choices. They are pressuring Congress to pass legislation that would prevent XM listeners like you from being able to use our new radios. These radios allow XM subscribers to record music you hear on XM for personal use so you can listen later—in the same way TiVo allows you to record TV shows for later viewing.

On this page, XM has set up an easy way for you to write to your Senators, and to spread the word to others. XM obviously is not going to take the RIAA's strong-arm tactics lying down. Good for them.

[via AllAccess] 

It's not a good day for earthly radio. Not only are indecency fines now 10 times more expensive, but they're also getting slapped around by Eliot Spitzer for pay-for-play charges.

George W. Bush has signed into law legislation that increases the fines $32,500 to $325,000 per violation. And of course, the NAB has to whine a bit more by stating: "If there is regulation, it should be applied equally to cable and satellite TV, and satellite radio."

Meanwhile, with EMI settling with Spitzer over payola charges, this marks the third record label in recent months who has admitted to essentially bribing radio stations to give artists airtime. Some EMI artists who have benefited from the payola scheme include the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Norah Jones, and Gorillaz.

As a result, EMI has agreed to the immediate cessation of payments and other inducements to radio stations, discontinuance of independent promoters as a pass-through for securing airplay, hiring of a compliance officer to monitor promotion practices, and implementation of an internal system to detect any future abuses.

[via Radio Ink & FMQB] 

We heard that for XM Satellite Radio to get back into the good graces, all that was needed was the addition of a 25-cent part. Well, lo-and-behold, here's the first modification applied to a Roady XT in the form of a ferrite bead. More than likely what you see here will be molded for production purposes... but you get the idea.

 

Check out more pics after the jump...

A House panel has approved draft language of the Section 115 Reform Act (S1RA), which addresses various aspects of digital song licensing and royalty distribution. S1RA is backed by the Digital Media Alliance (DiMA), National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), and - who else - the RIAA.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has strongly opposed S1RA and has been joined by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Sirius Satellite Radio, RadioShack, and XM Satellite Radio (to name a few) in voicing their opposition to S1RA.

EFF Deeplinks has a ton of additional info as well as a Coalition Letter Opposing S1RA, where both XM and SIRIUS took part in submitting. My favorite line from the letter:

"The bill is a back-handed technology mandate that will stifle innovation."

[via Digital Music News]

NAB Chairman/CEO David Rehr recently sent a letter to the FCC urging the commission to investigate satellite radio's offering of free trial subscriptions XM and Sirius have included in cars. The concern? According to the NAB, these free satellite radio subscriptions are allowing listeners to hear potentially offensive and indecent material without having paid for it. The NAB is also concerned with recent reports of radios being able to pick up satellite radio broadcasts that are "bleeding through" onto FM radios.

Rehr says that the NAB is "concerned about the unequal regulatory treatment between free over-the-air and satellite radio."

Rehr also discusses free trials of satellite radio in new cars and in rental cars, and says that "To the extent that satellite radio service is now received free by nonsubscribers, this undermines the frequently-made argument that satellite radio should be regulated very differently than traditional broadcast radio simply because satellite is a subscription service."

You can read the full letter to the FCC here (PDF)

[via FMQB]