Roger Fingas
The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, has renewed pressure on Apple to turn on the FM radios hidden inside every iPhone, citing how useful that might have been during Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. [Updated with Apple response]
"Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted doing so," Pai said in a statement on Thursday. Some makers with FM-enabled devices include Samsung, Motorola, and LG.
"When wireless networks go down during a natural disaster, smartphones with activated FM chips can allow Americans to get vital access to life-saving information," Pai wrote. "I applaud those companies that have done the right thing by activating the FM chips in their phones."
Apple should "step up to the plate and put the safety of the American people first," he concluded. Pai has previously refused to make FM support mandatory, but has also advocated for inclusion.
The company could be worried about FM diverting iPhone owners away from iTunes, Apple Music, and Beats 1, but more likely is that the company can't simply turn FM on, and is unwilling to alter its designs to make the feature practical. The defunct iPod nano had its headphones double as an FM antenna, but the iPhone 7, 8, and X don't even have a 3.5mm headphone jack — that would likely mean having to add or modify antennas solely for the sake of FM.
Update: In a response to MacRumors's Joe Rossignol, Apple said that the iPhone 7 and 8 have neither the chips nor the antennas needed for FM radio.
"Apple cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that's why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts," Apple said in a statement. "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."
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
152 Comments
I'd like to see Apple's reasoning for not enabling the FM radio. I'm sure there's a reason why other than just we don't feel like it.
Sounds like something reasonable, though I think congress would likely need to create a legal requirement for this, just like 911? Even it can't be done in current phones, regulation could make it happen in future models. Apple and other manufacturers would work out the engineering if they were mandated to, otherwise unless there is a business reason to do so, then probably won't?
Good enough reason for me
Pai: Hello? Trump White House: Try and kick some dirt on Apple with the FM thing again. We're getting hammered for our inept relief response to Puerto Rico. Make it sound like they're endangering people's lives. Pai: You got it.
Maybe they'll turn it on for 99¢ a month...