Today in Tech History: June 11, 2008 Video
Today in Tech History: June 11, 2008 Video Transcript
Hi, I'm Molly Wood. It's June 11, 2008, and here's what happened today in technology history. On this date in 1935, American electrical engineer and inventor Edwin Armstrong gave the first public demonstration of FM broadcasting in the United States. Armstrong patented his invention, wideband FM, in 1933. Unfortunately, his employer did not approve. It was the Radio Corporation of America, and not only did RCA fire Armstrong, it pushed the FCC to protect its AM radio dominance and undermine the rollout of wideband FM. Then, RCA claimed to have invented FM, and got its own patent on the technology. The patent fight that followed left Armstrong penniless, and he committed suicide in 1954. His widow went on to fight RCA on his behalf, and finally won in 1967. And in other sad patent stories, it was today in 2002 that the U.S. House of Representatives acknowledged that Antonio Meucci was the first inventor of the telephone. WHAT!? Yes. NOT Alexander Graham Bell. Meucci just couldn't afford to pay for a patent application, and Bell SWOOPED in and grabbed the credit. So, that's nice that the Congress finally acknowledged Meucci's accomplishment. One hundred and thirteen years after his death. Patents. What a mess. And that's it for today in tech history. I hope we've made you question everything you think you know. More of that, tomorrow.
