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!

In case you didn't notice yesterday, the launch of the XM-4 satellite was halted yesterday due to "off-nominal data from its automated launch support equipment."

While I'm not necessarily sure what's involved with the automated launch support equipment, I do know that being "off-nominal" is rocket-speak for "buggy" so it's a good idea the launch was scrubbed.

Have no fear though, both the spacecraft and the launch vehicle are in excellent condition. When things get nominal again, there will be an update.

"Talk to Me with Oprah Winfrey," a new weekly call-in show hosted by Oprah, debuts today at 10am ET, on XM's Oprah & Friends channel (ch 156).

"Talk to Me with Oprah Winfrey" gives listeners a direct way to share their thoughts with Oprah as she takes calls from listeners each week during the half-hour program.

Want to call Oprah to discuss, ask questions and share your own stories? Just call 866-OPRAH-XM (toll-free).

Oprah will open each show with a brief monologue that will serve as the underlying theme, starting with this week's theme "Life Lessons."

"Talk to Me with Oprah Winfrey" will air every Thursday at 10am ET and "Oprah Weekly Highlights" (a 1/2 hour show featuring interviews and moments from the previous week's "The Oprah Winfrey Show") will air Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. ET, both with additional encores airing throughout the week. Interestingly enough, this new programming replaces the weekly "Oprah and Gayle Show."

XM Satellite Radio and Bside (an independent film distributor) are joining forces to launch the independent documentary, Before The Music Dies (B4MD). Remember Before The Music Dies? I posted the preview a couple weeks ago before it looks so electrifying.

The partnership between Bside and XM will include a grassroots screening week (November 12th - 19th) and the first-ever "radio premiere" of a full-length film. Neat.

The screening week gives any music lover the opportunity to host their own screening of the film (hence the "grassroots" part). Events are already scheduled in markets across the US and Canada, will be held in venues ranging from recording studios to public libraries to large music clubs. Want to see where any of these screenings will be held? Just check here. It's being updated constantly

XM will kick off this national screening week with an audio broadcast of B4MD - the first-ever "radio premiere" of a full-length film - followed by a half-hour interview by XM's Bob Edwards with filmmakers, Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen.

The B4MD broadcast and interview special will air November 12th at 9pm ET on XM Public Radio (ch 133). XM will also provide a 24-hour loop of the documentary audio broadcast and Bob Edwards interview on XM LIVE (ch 200) starting at 8am ET on November 19th.

Awesome. 

The 72-hour countdown for the launch of the XM-4 satellite on October 26 has started. Liftoff is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window at 4:49pm PT (that's 7:49pm ET).

The Sea Launch Commander is now alongside the Odyssey, which is connected by a "link bridge" during launch preparations. Tomorrow, the team will raise the Zenit-3SL rocket on the launch pad. Final tests on the launch system and the spacecraft will lead up to the terminal count for liftoff.

The rocket will launch the 11,448 lbs XM-4 satellite to an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), on its way to a final orbital position of 115 degrees West Longitude.

Sea Launch will carry a live satellite feed and a streaming webcast of the XM-4 mission, starting at 4:35 pm PT (that would be 7:35 pm ET).

[more on Sea Launch's Current Launch Page] 

Good Charlotte's lead singer Joel Madden and guitarist Benji Madden dropped by the XM studios to perform new songs and audience requests in front of a group of 40 fans this past weekend. Fans in the audience were chosen by the band through Good Charlotte's MySpace page.

The performance will air on XM’s Top 20 on 20 channel.

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer and creator of the personal computer, will be hosting "Guest DJ On A Segway" on XM's The Village (ch 15) this Tuesday, October 24th at Noon ET.

The 4.5 hour show features The Woz himself hanging out with host Christine Lavin. Wozniak talks about his new autobiography "iWoz: From Computer Geek To Cult Icon," his love for the Segway (and Segway polo), his opinions on life, culture, and music. All the while he guest-DJs an excellent playlist that he whittled down after going through over five hundred of his favorite songs.

The story behind how The Woz got to guest-host the show is almost as interesting as the show itself. If you miss it on Tuesday, you can still catch the encores at: Friday at Midnight ET, Saturday 6pm ET and Monday 6am ET.

[via The Lefsetz Letter]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!