Industry body Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has called for immediate action to ensure free, easy and reliable access to Australian radio on smart devices like speakers and cars.
In a submission to the Senate inquiry on the Prominence and Anti-siphoning Bill (which is aimed at ensuring easy free-to-air television access on smart TVs), CRA said the Bill needs to include radio.
CRA Chief Executive Officer Ford Ennals says “It is essential to both the radio industry and Australian communities that there is always free, easy, and universal access to Australian radio on smart speakers and in cars.”
“If Australians cannot easily access local radio during emergencies such as bushfires, storms, floods, or traffic incidents, it can be an issue of community safety.”
CRA is asking for regulations to be introduced immediately for smart speakers, which could be applied to connected cars and other devices in the future.
“Our concern is if this Bill passes without any inclusion of radio, then the window of opportunity for this important reform would be lost,” says Mr Ennals.
“All Australians need easy access to local radio, whether they are using a smart speaker or driving a connected car.”
CRA’s submission on the Communications Legislation Amendment can be viewed here.
This story first appeared on Radio Today