FCC approves digital broadcast radio

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2002 10:05:41 -0700 (PDT)
To: dave () farber net
Cc: lauren () vortex com
Subject: FCC approves digital broadcast radio

Dave,

The Commission has voted 4-0 to approve digital radio broadcasting.
A brief story on this is at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5862-2002Oct10.html

What the story doesn't mention is the range of controversies regarding
the system.

Known technically as IBOC (In Band On Channel), the system is licensed
exclusively by Ibiquity.  The system allows FM (and potentially AM) stations
to transmit a digital version of their signal (or presumably other
programming) along with the conventional analog signal.  This is viewed
in many quarters as a transitional step toward fully digital radio
broadcasting.

Since "IBOC" was considered to be less than catchy as a marketing phrase,
the
new trademarked name for the service is (I kid you not) "HD Radio".

Some of the more controversial aspects include:

 - the cost of the radios to receive the digital transmissions, and of the
   equipment required to broadcast them

 - the licensing fees that Ibiquity demands from radio manufacturers *and*
   broadcasters who use the system -- Ibiquity appears to be in a monopoly
   position in this regard

 - concerns over adjacent channel and other interference related to
   the system (these concerns have been particularly intense for
   AM broadcasters, with suggestions that they may only be allowed
   to use the digital system during part of the broadcast day!)

 - suggestions that the audio quality of the system, with its relatively
   low digital compressed bit rate, is inferier to a quality analog FM
signal

These concerns and others (with the shadow of the failed AM-stereo
fiasco still in many broadcasters' minds) have caused a go-slow
attitude on the part of many stations, including some major station groups.

With some in the television industry already proclaiming that HDTV
(as opposed to DTV) is already "dead" as a consumer format, it should
be interesting to see what transpires with HD Radio.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () privacyforum org
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org
Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet
                     Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org
Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy


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