FCC inquiry - HD on Sattelite Radios

[Carmine5]

"The only other thing the Alliance can do is start pushing for a sunset of analog broadcasting".

I would not be in favor of that! However, I would support a sunset for Hybrid Digital broadcasting.

Nor would I. And, realistically, I doubt the FCC would accept that idea, at least not for a decade or so. But I can see, in desperation, the Alliance putting it forward.

But your idea of an either/or solution would be a good one.

C5

How can we get to the sunset of analog? Let's see, in 10 years how many digital radios would have to be sold, in order to sunset the estimated 800,000,000 analog radios? Meanwhile, HD radios are being pulled from store shelves and inventories, and digital radio is failing worldwide from lack of consumer interest. iBiquity willl never be able to get past the "hybrid" hump, especially since NPR is against the en-masse 10db FM-HD power increase. Worldwide, consumers have failed to see any cost-benefits to digital radio, and a mandate would not force consumers to buy digital radios. Sorry, but who buys radios anymore? There is no incentive for an HD Radio mandate from the FCC, since there is no spectrum to be auctioned, as in the case of digital TV.

"Get your HD Radio here. Government says your current radio won't work after February 2012."

Wouldn't the Alliance love a forced DTV-style transition for digital radio? Of course, consumers might just say, "hey, I'm already getting my favorite station(s) on my BlueTooth equipped smartphone and laptop, so go ahead but I don't need an HD Radio".

Speaking of auctioning channels, Jeremy Lansman over at KYES-(TV) in Anchorage said in an e-mail that since IBOC splatters outside an FM station's mask, the 10db increase would only spread that splatter even further pushing the digital side bands well into spectrum the station has no right to. He says that, legally, the additional spectrum should be put up for public auction or, at least, the station's analog signal.

What a mess that would make.

C5

 

[Play Freebird]

Speaking of auctioning channels, Jeremy Lansman over at KYES-(TV) in Anchorage said in an e-mail that since IBOC splatters outside an FM station's mask, the 10db increase would only spread that splatter even further pushing the digital side bands well into spectrum the station has no right to. He says that, legally, the additional spectrum should be put up for public auction or, at least, the station's analog signal.

That's correct. The accepted legal definition of "occupied bandwidth" is the range (within a channel) that includes 99 percent of transmitted power. If the digital sidebands are increased 10 dB, this will put well over 1 percent of the total power outside the 200 kHz FM channel.

 

[calstymes]

TheBigA suggested:

Have you looked at the stock market lately? Only a fool would make a public offering in the middle of a depression. Who is going to represent him? Lehman Brothers? Ha! Forget it.

Indeed, and perhaps Ibiquity's time has come and gone. However for several years, the business model was for the company to be wonderfully successful by hyping up HD radio and slamming it down the public's throat and then at the height of its popularity and the public's rush to buy HD radios, take the company public. The financing raised would have served to reimburse the capital speculators who invested rather heavily in this technology.

Unfortunately for Ibiquity, it hasn't gone that way, and now its chairman has a problem because he's got the capital speculators breathing down his neck to make good on their initial investments, as he promised he would do when he first took the money. Apparently, the capital speculators are beginning to realize that this may never materialize and the level of their consternation is rising with each passing day.

Could this be the just deserts that some people feel Ibiquity deserves for messing up commercial radio broadcasting in the U.S. so badly?

 

[KB1OKL]

Indeed, and perhaps Ibiquity's time has come and gone. However for several years, the business model was for the company to be wonderfully successful by hyping up HD radio and slamming it down the public's throat and then at the height of its popularity and the public's rush to buy HD radios, take the company public. The financing raised would have served to reimburse the capital speculators who invested rather heavily in this technology.

Unfortunately for Ibiquity, it hasn't gone that way, and now its chairman has a problem because he's got the capital speculators breathing down his neck to make good on their initial investments, as he promised he would do when he first took the money. Apparently, the capital speculators are beginning to realize that this may never materialize and the level of their consternation is rising with each passing day.

Could this be the just deserts that some people feel Ibiquity deserves for messing up commercial radio broadcasting in the U.S. so badly?

Can you say...Bankrupt?

 

[DStroyer]

who is obviously just another dweeb blogging from his mom's basement.

Wow. THAT hacky old line.

 

[DStroyer]

You may or may not know, Mr. Savage's station in Rochester is being interfered with byWBZ.

Oh, absolutely. How can I NOT know it? This message board is completely LITTERED with his rantings.

 

[TheBigA]

Could this be the just deserts that some people feel Ibiquity deserves for messing up commercial radio broadcasting in the U.S. so badly?

Huh? From what I've read, they have no impact in the marketplace, no impact in retail, no impact among consumers, and yet you say THEY have messed up broadcasting? Really? I thought that honor was reserved for one or all of the following: Clear Channel, the 1996 Telecom Act, Randy Michaels, Mel Karmazan, Farid Suleman, consultants, lawyers, accountants, suits, the stock market, and the FCC? How is it possible that iBiquity ranks above all them? No one can hear them! In the famous words of John McEnroe, You can't be serious!

 

[KB1OKL]

You may or may not know, Mr. Savage's station in Rochester is being interfered with byWBZ.

Oh, absolutely. How can I NOT know it? This message board is completely LITTERED with his rantings.

Sir, perhaps you have tunnel vision? Most of what you see in this forum is revulsion of the whole smarmy HD scam itself, with ibiquity and the alliance being the main culprits of course. There are a couple of trolls who come here to try to rile people up but most of us are wise to them and ignore them.

 

[JJS]

Could this be the just deserts that some people feel Ibiquity deserves for messing up commercial radio broadcasting in the U.S. so badly?

Huh? From what I've read, they have no impact in the marketplace, no impact in retail, no impact among consumers, and yet you say THEY have messed up broadcasting? Really? I thought that honor was reserved for one or all of the following: Clear Channel, the 1996 Telecom Act, Randy Michaels, Mel Karmazan, Farid Suleman, consultants, lawyers, accountants, suits, the stock market, and the FCC? How is it possible that iBiquity ranks above all them? No one can hear them! In the famous words of John McEnroe, You can't be serious!

Surely even the Big Hiccup can acknowledge the difference between hearing HD-R's grinding static on every receiver, and discerning its program content on a pitiful few.

 

[Savage]

At least Farid Suleman deserves credit and a big ethical thumbs-up for backing up his chief engineer, Martin Stabbert, and turning HD-AM off at night at all Citadel stations. Martin expressed to a close friend of this poster: "I was trained in this industry that whatever you broadcast must not trespass on your neighbors. And I'm not about to start doing it now." At least there are some big-radio execs out there with common sense, integrity and honest respect for other broadcasters.

Farid and Martin, I don't know if you ever visit these boards, but I give Citadel a hearty round of applause.

 

[pocket-radio]

Could this be the just deserts that some people feel Ibiquity deserves for messing up commercial radio broadcasting in the U.S. so badly?
[/quote]

Huh? From what I've read, they have no impact in the marketplace, no impact in retail, no impact among consumers, and yet you say THEY have messed up broadcasting? Really?
[/quote]

Once again (BigA) or (big donkey) your true agenda is painfully obvious, you support IBiquity. Why don’t you start an I love HD radio group, or blog where you can freely post and express your love of HD radio technology and Bobble Head Stru-bull.
Others in this group have called you out before and asked you for just an ounce of honesty. But once exposed in the open, you become like a scared little cat and your slippery pattern of lies and deception continues as you back peddle and claim to be anything other than what you’re, an HD supporter.

It’s ok and you have a right to your opinions. But you can’t help yourself BigA, you’ve got big problems because your twisted little mind gets a cheap thrill from arguing and twisting facts. [EDIT] Start an I love HD radio blog, or post your
loving thoughts freely in groups that support HD radio. [EDIT]





[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[Carmine5]

What's really interesting is that iBiquity received a $300,000 loan from the State of Maryland in March 2008 to move to its new headquarters in Columbia, Md. (with a $30,000 match from Howard County), but iBiquity is required to keep its staffing at a certain level:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/031408/busicol193924_32376.shtml

iBiquity's building looks very expensive to rent. iBiquity has everyone locked in - broadcasters are also investors, funding was received from Congress for the NPR conversions, the State of Maryland, and various institutional investors. I wonder, if iBiquity ever received that latest $15,000,000 round of investing? They have already spent over $135,000,000 of investor funds, so I can image that the pressure on iBiquity is tremendous, unless his investors are still asleep.

330K? That's nothing for a major corporation. Warren Buffett probably spills that much out his pocket while feeding a parking meter. The fact that iBiquity agreed to the 38/82 employee stipulation to receive these loans shows the desperate situation they're in.

I suggest that it's time for a radiothon to help Ibiquity out. The Alliance should suspend its successful "radio with a boob job" campaign and issue PSAs begging for dollars (as Robert W. Morgan used to say). "Your pledge of support will keep HD Radio going for another two years."

Supporting stations can even put these PSA's on their HD2/3 side channels so that all three listeners in any given city can rally forth and send in a check.

On a serious note, what Ibiquity can do is re-incorporate as a non-profit. In this way they can stand at the government trough along with the CPB for a yearly check from Uncle Sam.

C5

 

[TheBigA]

Once again (BigA) or (big donkey) your true agenda is painfully obvious, you support IBiquity.

Where do you come up with that?

Read what I wrote. I said HD Radio has "no impact in the marketplace, no impact in retail, no impact among consumers."

How does any of that support iBiquity? Explain the logic to me, because I can't see it.

 

[KB1OKL]

What's really interesting is that iBiquity received a $300,000 loan from the State of Maryland in March 2008 to move to its new headquarters in Columbia, Md. (with a $30,000 match from Howard County), but iBiquity is required to keep its staffing at a certain level:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/031408/busicol193924_32376.shtml

iBiquity's building looks very expensive to rent. iBiquity has everyone locked in - broadcasters are also investors, funding was received from Congress for the NPR conversions, the State of Maryland, and various institutional investors. I wonder, if iBiquity ever received that latest $15,000,000 round of investing? They have already spent over $135,000,000 of investor funds, so I can image that the pressure on iBiquity is tremendous, unless his investors are still asleep.

330K? That's nothing for a major corporation. Warren Buffett probably spills that much out his pocket while feeding a parking meter. The fact that iBiquity agreed to the 38/82 employee stipulation to receive these loans shows the desperate situation they're in.

I suggest that it's time for a radiothon to help Ibiquity out. The Alliance should suspend its successful "radio with a boob job" campaign and issue PSAs begging for dollars (as Robert W. Morgan used to say). "Your pledge of support will keep HD Radio going for another two years."


C5

Hey, maybe they can get Jerry Lewis, HD is quite sick, in fact I've been wondering when they're going to pull the plug.

 

[calstymes]

TheBigA postulated:

Quote from: Cal Stymes on September 16, 2008, 11:35:00 am

Could this be the just deserts that some people feel Ibiquity deserves for messing up commercial radio broadcasting in the U.S. so badly?

Huh? From what I've read, they have no impact in the marketplace, no impact in retail, no impact among consumers, and yet you say THEY have messed up broadcasting? Really? I thought that honor was reserved for one or all of the following: Clear Channel, the 1996 Telecom Act, Randy Michaels, Mel Karmazan, Farid Suleman, consultants, lawyers, accountants, suits, the stock market, and the FCC? How is it possible that iBiquity ranks above all them? No one can hear them! In the famous words of John McEnroe, You can't be serious!

"Karmazan" is spelt "Karmazin". And "spelt" is spelt "spelled".

That notwithstanding, you're right. I'm never serious.

But then again, I'm always serious. It's all in your perspective.

 

[Savage]

I'm sure Maryland has state business association laws that prevent you from just filing new paperwork and - SOUSAPHONE!! - you're suddenly a not-for-profit corporation.

What can the state do if iBiquity goes banko about their $330K job-development loan? Depends on the language in the loan documents. It's hard to see how the state would emerge as a secured creditor with the debt not dischargeable in bankruptcy. My guess would be the State would be SOL.

 

[Carmine5]

I'm sure Maryland has state business association laws that prevent you from just filing new paperwork and - SOUSAPHONE!! - you're suddenly a not-for-profit corporation.

Actually, I was only kidding about iBiquity going non-profit.

But given that public radio stations have been heavy investors of HD equipment and iBiquity is already highly dependent on a government agency's help (namely the FCC), receiving government grants on a regular basis would be a next logical step (besides bankruptcy court).

C5

 

[Savage]

I knew you were, Carmine! Actually, given the prevalent morality displayed time and again by iBiquity, nothing would surprise me - bribes, inappropriate applications for grants, faked bank loan applications, begging on the streets with tin cups, chain letters, or sticking a 9mm in some kid's ear in the convenience store.

"As long as we get to keep stations hissing, keep cranking out our ludicrous press releases, and keep lying to everyone who will listen.....everything WILL be fine.....no, really....." :