"The Italian radio and television industry and the main associations that protect authors, artists, and producers call on policymakers to ensure that all vehicles continue to include FM, DAB+, and IP reception systems." This is according to an appeal from Confindustria Radio Televisioni, Evolution, Itsright, Nuovoimaie, SCF, and Soundreef. " Radio," they state, "is in fact the primary means of information and entertainment while driving : every day, it reaches 35 million listeners, 27 million of whom are in cars. It is a tool for musical discovery, for promoting talent, and for free access to quality editorial content. Its presence on board is not optional: it is a safeguard of pluralism, cultural diversity, and safety in emergencies."

The appeal reads: "The #RadioInAuto institutional campaign promoted by Confindustria Radio Televisioni has already highlighted how integrating these technologies is essential to ensuring service continuity and user safety. The coexistence of different broadcasting modes allows us to leverage the widespread reach of FM, the quality of DAB+ digital, and the interactivity of IP without imposing access barriers for citizens. Institutions must intervene to prevent content selection from being influenced by the strategies of car manufacturers or software providers. Defending the single receiver (FM/DAB/IP) allows the public free access to a varied and locally rooted editorial offering."

"This is a European issue," add Confindustria Radio Televisioni, Evolution, Itsright, Nuovoimaie, SCF, and Soundreef. "Similar initiatives have already been launched at the EU level to draw attention to the centrality of radio in transportation. The removal or marginalization of radio receivers in dashboards is a shared problem that requires a common regulatory response. European institutions must ensure mandatory FM and DAB+ receivers in all vehicles sold in the EU, as part of the Digital Networks Act and the revision of the European Electronic Communications Code. Radio is a fundamental driver for the entire creative industry: reducing its accessibility would directly harm cultural and musical production . Without a regulation mandating hybrid receivers, we risk weakening the entire national and European cultural system. This is why we are calling for measures to make FM, DAB+, and IP mandatory in automotive infotainment systems, to protect citizens' right to information and the fair remuneration of artists, authors, and producers."

(Unioneonline)

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