A long-running dispute between radio broadcasters and the recording industry threatens to mandate that cell phone manufacturers include FM radios in all cell phones. What?! The dispute over music royalties is heading towards a settlement that some say will include the mandate.

The compromise under discussion by radio broadcasters, recording labels and recording artists could include a federal mandate that all new cell phones come with a built-in FM radio chip. While a deal is far from final, the prospect that the government could dictate a key design decision for such a ubiquitous consumer device has alarmed electronics manufacturers and wireless providers.

"This is two old-media industries attacking the new wireless broadband industry," said Gary Shapiro, head of the Consumers Electronics Association. "This is a battle that doesn't involve us."

Adding FM radios to cell phones would require another antenna. It would also affect battery time and the size of devices. What gives the government the right to force cell phone companies to adjust their devices to accommodate a dispute between two other completely unrelated industries?

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