In connection with the hurricanes that hit some parts of the US, the authorities asked Apple to include on the iPhone FM-receivers, so they could be used to transfer vital information to users. However, iPhone 7 and 8 are not equipped with radios at all, and in earlier models they are disabled by hardware.

FCC Requirement.

The Federal Communications Commission of the United States (FCC) demanded from Apple that it activate radio receivers on the iPhone through which users can be transferred vital information in conditions when other wireless networks do not work. The request was caused by the fact that in the past few weeks the East Coast of the United States fell into the zone of action of three major Atlantic hurricanes - Harvey, Irma and Maria.

FCC notes that Apple is the only smartphone manufacturer that has not yet activated the FM chips in this situation. However, FCC head Ajit Pai expressed confidence that the company will change its position. Recall, Republican Pai was appointed to his post by President Donald Trump (Donald Trump). He is known for his statements against the policy of network neutrality and protection of privacy in the provision of communication services.

FCC reported that it is not yet clear whether it will require Apple to obey through regulators. According to the commission, 90% of mobile phones in the US dependent Puerto Rico and two-thirds of US Virgin Islands remain outside the access zone due to the devastation caused by hurricanes.

Radio receivers in iPhone.

In response to the request of the FCC, Apple reported that the iPhone 7 and 8 are not equipped with radios, whether chips or antennas, and to make these devices receive FM signal is impossible. The company noted that instead of this, the devices are equipped with more modern safety equipment for emergency situations: the number of the rescue service can be dialed even when the screen is locked, as well as obtain information from the Medical ID profile. Also, iPhone 7 and 8 supports various notifications from the authorities, ranging from weather warnings and ending with a signal about the missing child in the AMBER system.

Thus, the company can not turn on the radios on the iPhone 7 and 8, because they are not there. Moreover, the Tech Crunch resource claims that the iPhone lost the ability to receive an FM signal long before the release of the seventh model. According to the publication, although in the other models there are radio receivers, they are disabled by hardware, and there are no supporting components. Tech Crunch reinforces its version by the fact that component manufacturers like Broadcom do not sell Apple ready parts, but customize them for the company's tasks. In the end, to turn on the FM-receiver on models older than the iPhone 7, these devices need to be disassembled and modified.

The background of what is happening.

As noted blogger John Gruber (John Gruber), the FCC's requirement to include FM chips can be regarded as an attempt to shift their own blame for being unprepared for hurricanes on Apple, or at least to distract oneself from attention.

At the same time, this is not the first time that Ajit Pye speaks on the topic of radios in smartphones. In February, he said that he would like to see the number of devices with activated FM chips increased. Most smartphones have such chips, but in the US they are only included in 44% of devices. For comparison - in Mexico such devices 80%. Pai complained that the FCC did not have the authority to propose to manufacturers a rigid demand, and hoped that the market would come to this decision on its own.

However, for manufacturers of smartphones and cellular operators, the inclusion of FM chips is a step backward, writes The Verge. If the user is in contact with the radio, the matter will end with the fact that he can start listening to music on FM waves, instead of using the streaming service. This will reduce the flow of data transmitted through the network, and hence the fee for this data. On the other hand, if the network is overloaded and if the tariff is connected with unlimited data transmission, operators can even benefit from the use of radio receivers.