THE PUSH TO ACTIVATE the FM chips on Canadian smartphones has gained some traction thanks to a new website aptly called Free Radio On My Phone.
The site says its led by the National Campus and Community Radio Association and a “collection of public, commercial and industry related radio organizations”, but it appears as though U.S. software developer NextRadio, who helped launch the American website freeradioonmyphone.org, is also heavily involved. The site lists the contact information for nine Canadian wireless carriers and urges consumers to contact them to demand that the FM receivers be turned on.
“Listening to radio on your phone using the FM chip instead of over the internet saves you valuable data and battery life”, reads the site. “Though some wireless carriers and phone manufacturers have agreed to activate the FM chip, we need your help to send a message to those that remain that free FM radio matters to you!”
The site also encourages Canadians to sign a change.org petition directed at the CRTC, Canadian telecoms and device manufacturers to enable the FM chips on smartphones in Canada.
“The heavy lifting has already been done”, the site continues. “The collaboration between the radio industry and the United States networks, as well as work with major phone manufacturers, resulted in the software necessary to enable the FM tuner in smartphones on all carriers. Now it’s just a matter of action here in Canada.”
