Lakeville, Minnesota: Adams Radio Group launched a new campaign today on every ARG station with a promotional audio, web and social media campaign to alert listeners and local communities of the FM Chip available, but not active, on cellular phones and to enlist community support for immediate activation.
Adams launched “activatefmchipnow.com” with the help of web partner Vipology.com and has populated the site with a sample letter that listeners can use to write to their representatives, FCC members and even Apple. The site also contains all the information necessary for listeners to contact congresspersons, senators, etc. by email, snail mail, and fax along with easy social media posting links. Adams CEO Ron Stone invites all radio stations to use any or all information from the site to launch their own campaigns. Stone says “Anything on the site now or anything we add later may be used by anyone to help in this fight to get the FM Chip activated. Links, audio, the site itself. We just want to see broadcasters get in this fight and make this the priority it should have been all along. FM radio is as much a part of our lives today as ever, and should not be left out of such an important utility as the cell phone, especially when the phone was designed to enable it from the beginning”.
Stone added “In light of recent emergency situations in Houston, Florida, The Caribbean and Puerto Rico with hurricanes, millions of people were, and still are, without power and had no ability to keep up with severe weather conditions and emergencies around them. Had the FM chip been activated, they could have used their cell phone to listen to FM Radio and remained aware and alert to conditions at all times. We don’t often think about this until tragedies hit us in our own back yards. What possible reason could there be for cellular carriers and phone manufacturers to choose not to activate the FM Chip other than the money they make from selling data for streaming and selling music streaming services? Why should tens of millions of consumers continue to be forced to pay manufacturers like Apple for their “pay for play” service when they can listen to their favorite local radio stations for free IF Apple and other phone manufacturers would activate the FM Chip that already exists in the Phone? There just isn’t a logical explanation other than money”.
The cell phone is a utility with countless uses and it makes no sense that FM radio is purposely and thoughtfully being left out of it. We rely on local radio stations for important local news, weather, and alerts. Apple says its new handsets do not have the FM Chip. One can only wonder why they would leave it out after 7 earlier versions that had it, none of which were activated.
Stone says “We are extremely excited that Senator Nelson (Florida) and FCC Chairman Pai have begun the conversion in Washington and we hope that many more Congresspersons and Senators will join them to make this FM Chip activation a reality on all smartphones sold in the US before another catastrophe strikes.”
If you are a broadcaster please help. If you own a cell phone please help. This will not happen unless you make YOUR voice heard.
About Adams Radio Group: Adams Radio Group is a medium to small market radio group focused on local radio operations and creating great marketing opportunities in the local communities. We are heavily involved in the communities we serve and are dedicated to the growth and success of the communities and clients we serve. Our employees are well seasoned radio professionals that know how to work with local communities and businesses. The ownership group of ARG is comprised of individual investors led by Stephen Adams, who is Chairman and majority owner of The Adams Companies, a diversified group of companies encompassing wineries, outdoor advertising, recreational vehicles and related services.