Homeland Security Chief Seeks FM in Mobile Devices

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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski are encouraging the adoption of FM radio tuners in mobile phone handsets. A letter, signed by a bipartisan group of 60 House lawmakers, notes that radio's emergency alert system is "a proven, reliable service," and urges the FCC and DHS to "consider extending American's access to radio EAS information via mobile phone handsets."

"The Warning Alert and Response Network ("WARN") Act of 2006 authorized the commercial mobile telephone industry to create an emergency alerting system. It is our understanding that incorporating FM radio tuners in mobile phones could help achieve this goal," the letter stated.

The letter continued, "There are well over seven hundred million cell phones with FM radios globally. Currently, only a handful of FM radio enabled cell phones are in the U.S. market. There is no excuse for American consumers' access to advanced technology to lag behind that available worldwide."

The letter is encouraging both DHS and FCC to consider extending Americans' access to radio EAS information via mobile phone handsets. "Everyone involved, including the American public and public safety officials, as well as the mobile phone and broadcasting industries, stands to benefit," the letter concluded.