System and method for selecting a frequency for personal-use FM transmission

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a speaker;
• a user interface operable to be employed by a user to select internal audio playback or external audio playback;
• a radio frequency receiver operable to wirelessly receive traffic information from one or more traffic information broadcasters;
• a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting audio information to an external audio system;
• a processing system coupled with the speaker, the user interface, the radio frequency receiver, and the radio frequency transmitter, the processing system operable to identify one or more traffic information frequencies used by the one or more traffic information broadcasters;
• and
• a portable handheld housing for housing the speaker, the user interface, the receiver, the transmitter, and the processing system,
• wherein, if internal audio playback is selected through the user interface, the processing system is operable for providing the audio information to the speaker for playback,
• wherein, if external audio playback is selected through the user interface, the processing system is operable for:
• directing the receiver to scan for available radio channels over which the transmitter can transmit the audio information, and
• using the one or more identified traffic information frequencies and the scan for available radio channels to select an available radio channel as the radio channel best suited for use by the radio frequency transmitter to transmit information to the external audio system.