FCC chairman Ajit Pai has asked Apple (NASDAQ:$AAPL) to activate the FM radio that is hidden inside of every iPhone. On Thursday, September 28, Pai asked that Apple “reconsider its position, given the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.” Pai stated that the FM radio can be used to receive “life-saving information” during natural disasters.
As nice as the idea was, Apple said Pai’s request was not possible for its latest phones. “iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products,” the company said in a statement.
As of right now, it seems Apple has no plans to activate the service on older phones, saying that the iPhone already includes other safety features
While it’s true most smartphones have an FM radio inside, most of those radios are deactivated. Why? Because if a phone receives FM radio, the user will be less likely to pay for data – and they’d just listen to the radio for free.
Pai pointed out that most wireless carriers and phone makers have pulled out of the race and offered access. “Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted doing so,” Pai said.
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