FCC chairman Ajit Pai called for Apple to activate the FM chips in the iPhone earlier Thursday. There's just one problem: The latest two generations of the iPhone don't have an FM radio chip. Some earlier versions do have a chip that includes FM capabilities among other functions, but Apple never added FM antennas or connected the FM function to anything, so it's not like the company can just flip a switch to turn on the radio abilities.
Why it matters: In theory FM radio technology could help cell phones be more useful in an emergency when cellular networks are inoperable but radio service remains operational. But, that still doesn't make Pai's request practical.
The Kremlin's principal international propaganda outlet RT (formerly Russia Today), spent $274,100 in U.S. ads in 2016, with related accounts promoting 1,823 tweets that "definitely or potentially targeted the U.S. market," Twitter said today in a lengthy blog post. The post came after a meeting with Senate Intelligence Committee leaders about how Russian actors used the platform to influence media coverage of the 2016 election. The campaigns were directed at followers of mainstream media outlets.
Why it matters: Twitter users played a major role in the dissemination of fake news stories and other misinformation during the 2016 election, an Oxford study found, and lawmakers are frustrated that Russian actors used major U.S. tech platforms to attempt to influence the outcome of the presidential election. Facebook has already handed over ads that it discovered were purchased by Russian actors, and now Twitter is having to disclose the extent to which Russia-linked accounts used the platform.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai pushed Apple this morning to activate the FM radio chips in the iPhone:
"In recent years, I have repeatedly called on the wireless industry to activate the FM chips that are already installed in almost all smartphones sold in the United States," he said in a statement. "Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted doing so. But I hope the company will reconsider its position, given the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria."
Why it matters: While users might not make frequent use of an FM chip, it has potential to be a backup conduit for information when other communication networks are down.
President Trump has waived the Jones Act, a shipping law that allows only American-owned and operated ships to carry goods and passengers to and from U.S. ports, for Puerto Rico. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders made the announcement on Twitter. The act was waived for Texas and Florida after Harvey and Irma to open up ports for resources.
It's Twitter's turn in the hot seat. The company will brief staff members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday as part of the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
The bottom line: While Facebook and Twitter are often lumped together as social networks, they face different questions in this investigation. The biggest question for Twitter is whether and how it influenced media coverage in the 2016 election — a key concern for both parties that will get a lot of attention.
