Bill Introduced to Have HD-Compatible Radio Receivers

September 29, 2008 To the delight of radio broadcasters, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) took time off from Congress' bipartisan effort to save the economy to introduce a bill that would require satellite and radio receiver manufacturers to include in all receivers sold in the U.S. the ability to receive HD Radio signals. During a Sept. 19 commissioner’s breakfast at the NAB Radio Show/R&R Convention in Austin, the commissioner, an opponent of the merger, played down the commission’s recent official public inquiry which seeks comment on making forcing HD Radio technology be included on satellite receivers and expressed doubt that the commission now has the legal authority to enforce such a requirement. "NAB salutes the leadership of chairman Markey and a bipartisan group of lawmakers for sponsoring this important bill that will boost the integration of HD Radio in satellite radio receivers, including those installed in automobiles," said NAB president and CEO David K. Rehr.

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