FCC 呼籲 Apple 在 iPhone 上啟動 FM 收音機功能

因應美國接連受到多個颶風吹襲後，國家廣播電視協會在受到壓力下，FCC 便發佈了一項聲明，呼籲 Apple 啟動每台 iPhone 內置的 FM 收音機功能。原因是 iPhone 並沒有啟用 FM 收音機功能，導致用戶需要透過應用程式及網絡去開啟 FM 收音機，但早前多個強大風暴吹襲時便導致數千或數百萬人沒有電力或是網絡服務功能，令到在接收天氣資訊或救助服務時會有一定程度的困難。主席 Ajit Pai 更特別指出 Apple 應該是時候將美國人民安全放在第一位，而其完整的聲明如下：

In recent years, I have repeatedly called on the wireless industry to activate the FM chips that are already installed in almost all smartphones sold in the United States. And I’ve specifically pointed out the public safety benefits of doing so. In fact, in my first public speech after I became Chairman, I observed that ‘[y]ou could make a case for activating chips on public safety groundsalone.’ 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. I applaud those companies that have done the right thing by activating the FM chips in their phones.

Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted doing so. But I hope the company will reconsider its position, given the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. That’s why I am asking Apple to activate the FM chips that are in its iPhones. It is time for Apple to step up to the plate and put the safety of the American people first. As the Sun Sentinel of South Florida put it, ‘Do the right thing, Mr. Cook. Flip the switch. Lives depend on it.

Pai 在聲明上重點提及到 FM 收音機功能，更首次提到 Apple。去年的一項研究發現，美國銷量最高的智能手機中只有 44％ 擁有 FM 收音功能。但 94％ 未啟用這功能的是 iPhone。其實 Intel 及 Qualcomm 的芯片是可以在 iPhone 中內置 FM 功能讓用家可以透過大氣電波接收信息，但偏偏 Apple 並未啟用該功能，而且亦沒有透露為什麼會禁止 FM 收音機功能，有批評者指應該是怕失去用家訂閱 Apple Music。

Statement from Apple regarding calls for FM radios to be enabled on iPhones. (Recent models don’t have them.) pic.twitter.com/xwggMNtjhq

— Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) 2017年9月28日

反而那邊廂 Apple 代言人便回覆指，其實 Apple 深切關注用戶的安全，特別是在危機時期，所以才將安全解決方案應用到我們的產品中，在 iOS 11 大家可以在鎖定屏幕撥打緊急服務，還有 Apple 會啟用政府的緊急通知，包括從天氣諮詢到警報。更在聲明上重點說到 iPhone 7 和 iPhone 8 其實是沒有 FM 收音機芯片，更沒有設計任何支援 FM 信號的天線，因此並不存在能夠在 iPhone 上啟用 FM 接收功能。而 FCC 到底會如何取決 Apple 的這份聲明，請繼續留意我們 HYPEBEAST 的後續報道。