OUTRAGE: RW PROPOSES MORE INDUSTRY, REGULATORY PROPS FOR HD

[Carmine5]

The savior of AM and FM radio, HD radio, now needs legislative life support and a taxpayer bailout. Some savior!

Looks like HD Radio is going to get its legislative savior.

This from R&R: Reps. Want HD, iPod Reception On Sat Receivers

"Two powerful members of the House of Representatives have told FCC chairman Kevin Martin that satellite radio receivers of the future must not exclude HD Radio, iPods, Internet connectivity or other technology if the FCC permits Sirius and XM to merge."


So, The House Commerce Committee, while squeezing Kevin's rocks on his management style today, was simultaneously telling him that HD Radio must be in future compatible sat receivers should the FCC approve the merger.

Quote:

"The politicians said that requirement “would serve to promote competitiveness, protect consumers and spur technological innovation.”

Actually a "Swiss Army Knife" receiver is not a bad idea. But here again, it's evident that the radio industry, and particularly engineers, have not been consulted as to whether this would be a workable proposal or not.

To paraphrase the above quote it's all "politics."

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/


C5

 

[SUPERCASTER]

From Carmine5 above:

"Two powerful members of the House of Representatives have told FCC chairman Kevin Martin that satellite radio receivers of the future must not exclude HD Radio, iPods, Internet connectivity or other technology if the FCC permits Sirius and XM to merge."

With the almost infinite number of additional, much better station choices and better technologies for nationwide reception on all sat radio's, range limited HD radio listening will not gain any audience (and will probably loose most). Insisting upon this self destructive inclusion of HD radio in this Swiss army knife universal receiver is madness. HD radio is about to voluntarily drink the hemlock they've been brewing!

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

The House Commerce Committee, while squeezing Kevin's rocks on his management style today, was simultaneously telling him that HD Radio must be in future compatible sat receivers should the FCC approve the merger.

This, occurring in the town in which everything is for sale. Congress-critters slamming Kevin Martin for letting himself be bought. You just can't make this stuff up.

I'd like to quiz those two Commerce Committee members, and see how much they REALLY know about HD Radio. Of course, I'm not implying that any money or other consideration changed hands. Oh no. Of course not. We all know members of Congress are as pure as the driven snow.

Damn. I left my hip-boots at the transmitter site.

 

[Savage]

Personally I don't see this as that big a deal. It may come as a shock for most to learn that members of Congress posture and pontificate all the time with "demands." Few are the examples of proposed legislation that - if ever passed at all - resemble the initial public "demands" of lawmakers.

I wonder about the practicability of mandating all-mode operation for every sat receiver sold. It would be easy to see a merged XM/Sirius insisting that such a sweeping requirement would doom the company - hey, Congress, look at our accumulated losses so far - or limiting "all-mode" to receivers retailing above a price benchmark, like $150, with the cheaper sets available as satellite-only (and representing 95% of sales.)

Besides, "all-mode" means HD Radio would still have to compete one-on-one, even within a given individual receiver, with iPods, analog radio internet radio and satellite. As we have seen HD does not fare well in this environment, because - well, the performance stinks.

Then there's the well-known "weasel wording" in all drafts of legislation.

"Must not exclude?" What the hell does that mean?? You could satisfy that requirement with a source switch and an AUX-IN jack.

 

[MHB]

The savior of AM and FM radio, HD radio, now needs legislative life support and a taxpayer bailout. Some savior!

Looks like HD Radio is going to get its legislative savior.

This from R&R: Reps. Want HD, iPod Reception On Sat Receivers

"Two powerful members of the House of Representatives have told FCC chairman Kevin Martin that satellite radio receivers of the future must not exclude HD Radio, iPods, Internet connectivity or other technology if the FCC permits Sirius and XM to merge."


So, The House Commerce Committee, while squeezing Kevin's rocks on his management style today, was simultaneously telling him that HD Radio must be in future compatible sat receivers should the FCC approve the merger.

Quote:

"The politicians said that requirement “would serve to promote competitiveness, protect consumers and spur technological innovation.”

Actually a "Swiss Army Knife" receiver is not a bad idea. But here again, it's evident that the radio industry, and particularly engineers, have not been consulted as to whether this would be a workable proposal or not.

To paraphrase the above quote it's all "politics."

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRWebSite/


C5

Link to the letter:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.050108.FCC.XMRadio.pdf

What the letter actually says is not as strong as "must not exclude," just that the merged company would not be able to prevent any manufacturer from manufacturing a receiver, the manufacturer would be permitted to include HD radio technology (and/or the other things mentioned), and the merged company would not be able to prevent the receivers from reaching consumers.

 

[KB1OKL]

Even if these companies do make them with HD included , in a few years the HD section will be like the 8 track players that were included on old SS console stereos from the early 70's: unused and in pristine condition when the rest of the device was falling apart. Gladys, what's that funny looking radio do? I don't know Harry but it don't work.