A system for programming a remote control device incorporates a battery-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) reader into the remote control device. A passive RFID transponder is embedded into the electronic consumer device, or is otherwise provided to the consumer. The RFID transponder stores codeset data usable to control the electronic consumer device. In one example, the codeset data is an entire codeset. In another example, the codeset data is a designation of a codeset. The remote control device is placed in proximity to the RFID transponder, and a program key is pressed on the remote thereby causing the RFID reader in the remote control device to read the codeset data out of the RFID transponder and into the remote control device. In one embodiment, the codeset data is read from the RFID transponder using absorption modulation. The codeset data enables the remote control device to control the electronic consumer device.