Volkswagen Working On In-Dash Internet

As part of a joint venture with Intel VW is working on a very cool system that will handle all media functions including AM/FM radio and always-on internet.

Here's the demo video to check out the test system in action

Bailout For Minority-Owned Broadcasters?

The Hill newspaper ran with the story this morning.

Whether the intent is noble or not is up to you, but one has to ask if the government extends credit [bailout] to commercial broadcasters; one also has to ask will the government then have a voice in that broadcasters content? If the car companies and banks are any indication--the answer is YES.

Next question: If the minority-owned broadcasters get a bailout, how long will it be before the rest of the broadcasters are asking for a bailout? Answer: Not very long.

If we continue down this road to its eventual end one has to ask how long will it be before the government has a say in the content for all commercial broadcaster's content? If the car companies and banks are any indication--the answer is YES.

I don't know if this will happen on any level, but, better we ask these questions now and think about what it would mean "if" it were to happen. It's a lot of "ifs," but given how poorly our industry is doing it wouldn't surprise me.

Here's the full story from The Hill

Democrats seek financial rescue of minority-owned broadcasters

By Silla Brush

Posted: 05/19/09 06:13 PM [ET]

High-ranking House Democrats are urging the Treasury Department to prop up minority-owned broadcasters suffering from a lack of capital and lost advertising revenue amid the economic slump. House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is leading an effort to convince Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to take “decisive action” by extending credit to this sector of the broadcasting industry. Clyburn and other senior members, including House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), argue that minority-owned broadcasters are sound businesses, but that the recession could undermine the government’s efforts to diversify the airwaves. A number of members from the Congressional Black Caucus signed the letter, too. “While many jobs are at stake, a more important principle — the government’s fundamental interest in promoting a diversity of voices, including service to underserved communities — is severely threatened,” the members write in a draft of a letter that was scheduled to be sent Tuesday. The letter comes as some of the biggest recipients of government bailout money, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, jockey to repay government bailout money. As banks seek a way out from the government’s restrictions, other industries struggle and seek government support. Some firms seeking to repay the government argue that the government’s restrictions have burdened their businesses. The congressmen suggest the Treasury Department could provide access to capital to minority-owned broadcasters, which they say represent less than 7 percent of full-power radio stations and a “negligible” ownership of television stations. “They are looking for continued access to capital to continue their otherwise fundamentally sound operations,” the members write. The letter suggests Treasury could set up a credit facility specific to the industry, similar to the government’s efforts to support auto suppliers, or possibly set up a program for bridge financing and government-backed loans until the economy improves. “In addition to the credit crisis, also weighing heavily on minority broadcasters is a significant decline in advertising revenues, particularly the loss of automobile advertising,” the congressmen write. The members are asking for a meeting with the Treasury Department and minority-owned broadcast entities and representatives from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters. Other members signing the letter are Democratic Reps. Bobby Rush (Ill.), Edolphus Towns (N.Y.), Maurice Hinchey (N.Y.), Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), G.K. Butterfield (N.C.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Lynn Woolsey (Calif.) and Bennie Thompson (Miss.)