[cma-l] Platform neutral radio sets

[Two Lochs Radio]

Further to my previous posting (as if that weren't long enough already!), I 
note that RadioCentre is describing the 'platform neutral' initiative as 
being a commitment to:
"devices that provide platform neutral tuning, and equal access to radio 
stations whether they are on FM or digital"

As I said, to be truly platform neutral means to me also supporting the 
various track naming and interactive features, rewind/pause options etc as 
far as
practicable, regardless of transmission technology. These things are all 
perfectly feasible technically on existing FM broadcasts as well as DAB, 
mostly simply needing more software and a simple digitizer, but it seems to 
me that DCMS and RadioCentre are looking at simply providing a uniform list 
of station names for selection.

I guess that is the most important aspect, but it would be a rather 
half-hearted implementation of platform neutral in my view.

And when the minister gave the idea his backing in Parliament this week, 
there was no mention of just how it would be ensured that all, or even most, 
DAB radios offered even this limited implementation.

Alex