HD Radio Boost: F.C.C. Expands Digital Radio Services
This week, the Federal Communications Commission (F.C.C.) adopted additional policies and rules that will enhance the digital radio services now being rolled out to the American public under the banner of "HD Radio".
A Little Background
In October 2002, the FCC selected IBOC (in-band, on channel) as the technology enabling AM and FM radio broadcast stations to begin digital operations. IBOC was developed by iBiquity Digital Corporation and transmits near-CD quality audio signals to radio receivers along with new data services such as station, song and artist identification, stock and news information, and local traffic and weather bulletins.
With IBOC, a radio station is also capable of splitting its digital channel so that it may broadcast multiple streams of digital audio programming, commonly referred to as "multicasting" or "HD2".
IBOC allows broadcasters to use their current radio spectrum to transmit AM and FM analog signals simultaneously with new digital signals.
Since the Commission first authorized Digital Audio Broadcasting ("DAB"), over 1200 stations have begun or plan to begin hybrid digital broadcasting.
What's New
Today, the Commission:
- Required that each local radio station broadcasting in digital mode to simulcast a digital signal of at least comparable audio quality to its analog signal
- Adopted a flexible bandwidth policy permitting a radio station to transmit high quality audio, multiple program streams, and data casting services at its discretion
- Allowed radio stations to time broker unused digital bandwidth to third parties, subject to certain regulatory requirements
- Authorized AM nighttime operations
