MUNICH � About 13% of German households are using digital radio. The majority of consumers still listen to FM VHF channels.
However, the Federal Council and the federal ministry of transport and digital infrastructure (BMVI) want to change that by making all radios sold in Germany after the first of January of 2019 capable of receiving digital radio transmissions. �Each radio offered for sale, rent, or otherwise, that can display the program name and program-related supplementary services, must be suitable for receiving digital signals that match a norm of a recognized European standards organization.��
�A complete end for purely analog FM radios�as initially planned�means those rules (eventually) but not now.�Receivers without FM RDS function (such) as bath or travel radios, (or) which only have a rotary dial or the mere frequency display, can remain on the market. Thus, even low-income households can continue to afford a radio.�It’s just not clear how long they can still be used, because the ultimate goal is still to disable the analog FM band sometime,� according toteltarif.de. �It is still unclear whether smartphones and tablets are considered “radio receivers” if you have (a) built-in FM radio.�Models (that) have an RDS function…according to the draft actually from 2019 (onward) can no longer (be) sold commercially � unless they have also a digital radio chip installed.��
The amendment of the “Third Act amending the Telecommunications Act” is not subject to approval, therefore the Bundestag (the national Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany)can evaluate this decision as a recommendation only.
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