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!
Im a fan of NPR but heck they can be found on about 6 channels in my area (2 local NPRs, 1 college station broadcasting NPR, and several surrounding podunk stations broadcasting). If you get bad reception on one, just tune in another.
I wonder how they would like it if Sirius dropped them and XM dropped their new station that carries NPR content.
Once again, very funny. See, if they actually made some money, they could pay for a better frequency.
sooooo desperate.
soooo desperate
npr is on satellite. its so boring, but its there. and now they have to brown nose nab. how is this a significant threat to the public's free radio? what about the asshole next to me at the red light playing chingy at 180 decibals? thats intruding my 12.99 a month listening to sat.
just like in politics, if you cant beat your opponent, destroy him instead---They seem so scared about sat radio
To FaFaFluFly:
That is where there is noise laws.
But to ask a question. If FCC did tell Apple/XM/Sirius to make a recall, how would they force people to turn in these units?
The fact that I can barely get the OLD modulators (the late '05-early '06) like the Starmate Replay to overlap onto 88.1FM, Baltimore's NPR, and the 88.1 FM bleeds into iPod transmitter territory: 88.3 FM makes me wonder: Are Sirius/XM/Apple violating the FCC rules, or are terrestrial radio stations?
In this case, it doesn't matter if you are an xm fan or a sirius fan... In order to stop these false allegations, XM and xirius must work together also.
This company is a disgrace for even bringing something like this up.
Hopefully they'll end up more concerned with the millions of MP3 and iPod mods that are way out of whack than the few hundred thousand satrad receivers...
Honestly, though, I think there are far more pressing issues to deal with than this. If the FCC's gonna start enforcing this crap now, the time and place to do it is before the units go on the market. Seeing as how they are not posing any threat to anyone's health, I don't see how there can be any real reason to justify a full-scale recall. At worst, XM and the Dog can send everyone a ferrite bead on the honor system to solve the problem, and NAB can go fly a kite...
(Why, oh why, must the most awesome trade show for TV poeple be run by such incompetent idiots?... and no, I won't go to IBC in Holland.)
There may be another reason why NPR is complaining- here in New York City, the NPR Flagship station, WNYC, is required to reduce their wattage output to a fraction of what it is during the day, so as not to interfere with 50,000 watt clear channels like WBAL in Baltimore. That is the FCC rule. Don't expect help from George Bush on this one- he can't spell "public."
Love the pics on this and the NAB article. I think both the NAB & tax-dollar funded NPR should have been aborted.
WF
another NAB wine.. Makes me want to disconect my Skifi2 direct connection (that provides better sound) just to broadcast over FM.. why?.. cause I can. "F" them.