Explanation
A. few if any of the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994 broadcast to people with RDS-equipped radios living in areas not previously reached by RDS stations.
Correct. This confirms that the new radio stations did not reach out to a large number of untapped listeners during this time.
B. In 1996 most Verdlanders who lived within the listening area of an RDS station already had a radio equipped to receive RDS.
Out of scope. This doesn't draw a parallel with the earlier situation -- in 1994, what number of Verdlanders in the listening area were equipped with RDS-enabled radios?
C. Equipping a radio station with RDS technology does not decrease the station’s listening area.
Not an assumption. If equipping a radio station with RDS decreased the station's listening area, there would be fewer listeners in 1996 than there were in 1994. Howeover, this is not the assumption we're looking for, as the argument doesn't depend on it (an assumption HAS to be true). Negate this, and you'll see the argument will still hold.
D. In 1996 Verlanders who did not own radios equipped to receive RDS could not receive any programming from the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994.
[Edit in explanation]There is a subtle premise shift here. The conclusion limits its scope to "special programs" -- which can only be received by radios equipped with RDS, whereas this statement talks about not receiving ANY programming from RDS-enabled stations.
E. The RDS radio stations in Verdland in 1996 did not all offer the same type of programming.
Irrelevant
Answer: A