“The U.K. has decided to allow the use of low-power FM transmitters used to stream tunes from a portable music player to a car stereo,” Jeremy Kirk reports for IDG News Service.
“The amendment being made under the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949 will fix a quirky loophole that makes it legal for U.K. retailers to sell certain types of FM transmitter, such as the iTrip, but technically illegal for most people to use them,” Kirk reports.
Kirk reports, “The U.K. Office of Communications (Ofcom) said it was acting on consumer feedback. The change will take effect Dec. 8.”
More info in the full article here.
It’s great that they’re fixing a loophole. For those in the know, was this law strongly enforced or is it more of fixing the books?
For those in the U.S., hope you have (had) a Happy Thanksgiving.
Peace.
Living there and being in the broadcast community, I’ve never heard of it being enforced. As with most laws pertaining to transmission they’re there for people to build standards and guidelines around and when applying for licences. When your legitimate trasmission gets interfered with, then you know you have the law behind you when finding the source of the interference. There is minimal, spot enforcement of such things.
This is not an ‘iPod’ issue nor is it a MSFT bashing issue. I don’t see how we are supposed to have any fun with it. MDN could just as well post a news story about Firestone Tires.
Actually, it is an iPod issue.
Many people use the Griffin iTrip or Monster transmitters in their cars so they can play their iPods through their radio. They work quite well, and I really like my Monster unit.
Now people in Britain can have fun with their Monster units.
I always have fun with my Monster “unit”
Thank you, Lurker
This reminds me of when, back in the day, it was legal to buy a bong but not to use it.
Did they ever fix that loophole?
Sounds like the Uk figured out how to share our tunes wirelessly with our iPod friends. No 3 day or 3 time limit. Welcome to the Social. HEHEHEHEH
I’ve had an iTrip for a while. I bought it from a store in Liverpool, who made me sign a disclaimer that I wasn’t going to use it in the UK (wink wink).
I’ve seen them for sale in places such as PC World, this ‘law’ has been ignored for quite some time in the UK. Still, glad to see I don’t run the risk of being sent to Guantanamo if I’m caught using my little iTrip.
JK/UK
The power of Mac – changing a law thats been on the books since 1949! Wow!
Now our Brit cousins can buy FM transmitters legally.
Get a C.Crane they got the biggest transmit range, around 100 feet after an easy mod.