In what seems like a backing of a NAB initiative, National Public Radio (NPR) has written a request to the FCC to recall FM modulators used to play iPods, Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, through car stereos, because the modulators are interfering with public radio's broadcasts.

An NPR field study found that nearly 40% of the devices sold have signal strengths that exceed FCC limits. A similar study conducted by the NAB put the figure closer to 75% of all FM modulator devices.

These FM modulators "have contributed to ... unacceptable degradation of the audio quality of public radio stations," said NPR's chief executive officer, Ken Stern, in an October 12th letter to the FCC Chairman.

"Left unaddressed," he continued, "these modulators pose a significant threat to the provision of public radio's free, over-the-air public and community service."

A copy of the letter was obtained by The Baltimore Sun.

In the letter, Stern urged the FCC to look beyond satellite radio (genius!) and conduct a "thorough technical review" of the most popular FM modulators on the market, and to pursue a recall of all those found in violation of FCC rules. It's funny that the NAB has not voiced this thought, and only chooses to go after satellite radio.

There's no question that some devices (satellite radio or not) are exceeding emission levels. There's also no question that XM and SIRIUS have done everything they can to fix the situation. The one thing that I do question about NPR's request here is... why now?

[The Baltimore Sun via Radio & Records]
Thanks realwx!

Remember Interoperable Technologies? They're the company that is actually working with both SIRIUS and XM (gasp!) to create a dual-service receiver that supposedly is nearing production. Well, Interoperable Technologies has gone and filed for a patent to operate a dual-service receiver via a cellphone/PDA.

As I understand it (and, mind you, I'm no lawyer), the patent creates a method to activate and control a satellite radio receiver via Bluetooth (or possibily other wireless protocols). It also allows for the methodology to transmit back to the satellite provider your usage statistics. Oh, and probably most importantly, it specifies the ability to create a "portable satellite radio subscription" - meaning that while you're at home, you can listen to your home receiver; then when you get in your car, you can listen to your car's receiver. All controlled via this single cellphone/PDA device, and presumably under a single subscription.

It's important to note that this is not a patent to listen to satellite radio via a cellphone/PDA, instead it's a method to control your satellite radio receivers via a cellphone/PDA.

I really like the concept of a transferrable activation method. As noted in the patent application, an "exemplary embodiment" of this would be the use of public satellite radio subscriptions:

Such public subscription radios may be located, for example, in places such as restaurants, coffee houses, hotels, and like places where a series of individuals are likely to be for relatively short periods of time. The subscription radio service provider may elect to charge a user for activation of each public subscription radio or for the ability to be able to activate any public subscription radio. 

Walk into your hotel room, activate the room's satellite radio receiver, and you won't miss any of your favorite shows.

Read the full patent application here, or check out this PDF version which includes diagrams and flowcharts.

[via Satellite Radio TechWorld]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Sirius Satellite Radio has some spooky and scary programming that's sure get your blood curdling (if it's so easily curdled). From an entire channel dedicated to the sounds of Halloween, to creative tips from Martha Stewart, to bone-chilling broadcasts of the original classic horror-themed radio programs - Sirius is sure to have something for Halloween revelers that are sick of watching "The Great Pumpkin" for yet another year.

SIRIUS is mutating Kid's Stuff, (ch 116) to SIRIUS Halloween Radio just for Halloween day, on 6am – 3am ET, playing uninterrupted atmospheric and thrilling Halloween sound effects. These kid-friendly spooky noises include creaking doors, wolves baying, footsteps, bubbling potions, fog horn, breaking glass, being chased through the woods, eerie screams, echo of dripping water, heart beating, slow walk and thunder and lightening. 

Then there's the Martha Stewart Happy Halloween Special, starting at 2pm ET. Martha and her entourage will share tips for pumpkin carving, decorating ideas, choosing a costume, safe trick-or-treating and fun party foods. Morning Living (7am – 9am ET) and Afternoon Living (3pm – 5pm ET) will feature interviews with a gosh-darn real witch and a real ghost hunter. Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer (5:00 – 7:00pm ET) will feature Halloween surprises - all this and more on Martha Stewart Living Radio, channel 112.

RadioClassics (ch 118): The RadioClassics Halloween Spooktacular will feature the original, unedited version of War of the Worlds on the very same day and time it originally aired in 1938 (October 30th at 8pm ET). The horror will continue Halloween Day with programs like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Werewolf and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde featuring famed actors Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Gregory Peck, and Burt Lancaster. Check the RadioClassics page for more showtimes.

Cosmo Radio's (ch 112) morning show Wake Up with Cosmo Radio (7am – 11am ET) will host Taylor will share cool Halloween makeup tips on the Halloween Boo-tiful segment, while the nighttime show Go to Bed with Cosmo Radio (7pm – 11pm ET) host Victoria will offer plenty of ideas for sexy Halloween costumes and advise listeners which tricks work best for getting a “treat” from your man. Grrr.

And that's just a taste, there's oodles more of spooky programming to tune into, check it out here. 

I'll admit it, I don't listen to Martha Stewart Living Radio. I'm a married guy in his 30s (alright, so I just turned 30) with two-kids with a penchants for booze, manual labor and relentless blogging - so anything relating to Martha Stewart just doesn't fit my profile.

It's knowing this that I picked up the phone for a conversation with Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Hutt this morning - hosts of "Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer" - hoping to learn a bit more about the show the people behind it. Sure, I'm not the target audience, but I know they have a devote fan following... so there must be something about them.

The conversation started off discussing about a trip to the pediatrician, and then quickly turned to blow-jobs... wait a sec. Maybe I am the target audience.

What I thought was going to be a giggle-filled chat with two bubbly girls ended up to be an eye-opening and (dare I say) enjoyable conversation. Alexis and Jennifer have no prior radio experience, don't really match the "brand" of Martha Stewart Living Radio, and from an outsider's point of view, have no business being on the air.

But maybe that's why it works. They're real, not a formula.

The opposing dynamic between the two personalities (who, ultimately, both share the same core values), mixed with the type of candor that you only hear after a couple glasses of wine, makes me believe that these two are meant to be on the radio. If a half-hour conversation on the phone with these two can be this entertaining, what's a two-hour show like? I'm curious to find out.

"Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer" is celebrating one-year of broadcasting, a milestone that seems well deserved. Tune in every Monday through Friday, from 5pm-7pm ET (encores at 12am), or check out their new website... you might find something surprising, I know I did.

Eminem will be live on his SIRIUS Satellite Radio channel, Shade 45 (ch 45), this Wednesday, October 25th at 4pm ET to premiere a new track from Shady Records' upcoming CD, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up.

Em will be live on the air with the Lord Sear and Rude Jude, hosts of The All-Out Show on Shade 45.

He'll also be celebrating the second anniversary of Shade 45, which is sort of interesting since Orbitcast is doing the same. Two-years and counting... amazing.

Tony Hawk will be hosting a special edition of Tony Hawk’s Demolition Radio on Thursday, October 26th at 3pm ET on SIRIUS Faction, (ch 28).

Broadcasting from the set of a Jeep commercial he's filming in Los Angeles, Tony Hawk will talk about his upcoming video game, Project 8, and preview music from its soundtrack.

Tony will reveal special features of Project 8, and will talk about what went into putting the soundtrack together.

In a special SIRIUS live broadcast, Grammy-winning artist John Legend will perform songs from his upcoming new album Once Again, this Wednesday, October 25th at 12pm ET on SIRIUS Heart & Soul (ch 51). Once Again is set to be released on October 24th.

The winner of three 2005 Grammy awards, John Legend will perform before a studio audience for this live broadcast. In between songs Legend will respond to interview questions from on-aur hosts Tanya Simpson and James "D-Train" Williams.