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Ford opposes HD Radio mandates

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Ford has come out opposed to Rep. Ed Markey’s proposed Radio Receiver Act that could require HD Radio reception capability for satellite radio receivers. The automaker sent a letter to the FCC outlining its opposition.
Said Ford: "[The proposal] has several ancillary consequences that would be extremely burdensome to consumers, the auto industry and OEM manufacturers, and it should be rejected by the commission…[It] will likely increase the price of audio entertainment options in vehicles, without regard to whether consumers actually want those options…Consumers who only desire satellite radio will be subsidizing the HD Radio broadcasting industry because they will be forced to purchase HD Radio."

RBR/TVBR observation: No shocker here. Ford, along with all of the American automakers, are struggling to stay alive. The last thing they need to do is pass onto the consumer additional costs associated with the in-dash car stereo. In case you hadn't noticed, 90% of all HD Radios available from the automakers are in foreign vehicles. Have an opinion on this article? Post your comment below.

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Subscribe to comments feed Comments (1 posted):

Pocket Radio on 2008-12-02 14:23:21
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"Ford Motor Company"

"The tests iBiquity Digital conducted demonstrate a 10 dB power increase will deliver a more complete replication of digital coverage in a variety of terrain environments. The tests also confirm the higher power will increase building penetration. In the case of car listeners, this means, obstructions such as garages and underpasses will provide less of an impediment to continued reception. These tests confirm both the improved coverage and building penetration from the increased transmission power level and also the viability of increasing power without causing undue interference to adjacent channel stations. They also demonstrate that there will be limited impact on adjacent channel stations in the vast majority of cases."

http://tinyurl.com/6a2wlx

Yet, Ford supports the trashing of our airways.

"Radio’s Revenue Falls Even as Audience Grows"

"And automakers, which have other problems, are not embracing the technology; so far, only Volvo is offering HD Radio as a standard feature in its new cars (it is standard in all but one of its 2009 models). HD radio is pretty much going to be nonexistent, because they can’t figure out how to get the auto guys to include that as an option, and the auto guys that do include HD don’t let the consumers know about it, Ms. Ryvicker of Wachovia Capital Markets said. It’s been a horribly marketed product that’s not going to save the radio industry. Mr. Struble objected to that characterization... He said there was 'a lot of momentum' with the auto industry."

http://tinyurl.com/5zx3je

Yet, those automakers that do offer HD Radio don't even bother to tell their customers.
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