FCC Proposes Increase in HD Signal Power

[davideduardo]

Inside Radio reports:

"FCC Advances Proposal That Would Allow Digital Stations To Increase Power More Easily.​

More power? Yes, but the Federal Communications Commission says a proposal that it is advancing would further the agency’s eventual goal of moving terrestrial broadcasting from an all-analog to an all-digital world. In a unanimous vote, the Commission has launched a rulemaking that, if approved, would change the methodology used by digital FM stations to determine whether they are eligible to increase power."

They go on to say power may be increased to as much as 10% of analog FM power.

More at FCC Advances Proposal That Would Allow Digital Stations To Increase Power More Easily.

 

[Kelly A]

Other than public stations, I wonder what sort of an appetite there is for messing around with increased digital power, considering the potential capital expense of doing so. That, and I find the second paragraph perplexing:
"Longer term, the FCC says when it first authorized digital operations in 1999 it set a course for an all-digital radio service. Although it has not set any timetable for the eventual change, and it remains happy to let the marketplace decide the pace, the Commission sees the power increase proposal as a way to encourage more stations to convert from analog. About 2,000 stations have already made the leap, and more digital receivers are in the market. With that in mind, the Commission says the continued adoption of digital FM broadcast technology supports many of its conclusions in the proposal."

If the Commission were serious about a true conversion to digital, then I'm not sure how that roadmap is created by just allowing higher-level digital sidebands on analog stations. Seems like if they were indeed serious, the Commission would work on some sort of a calendar target, where FM stations would shut off their analog modulation, allowing the subsequent digital use of the entire carrier. At least get the conversation started, rather than nibbling around the edges. That way stations wouldn't need to spend tons of capital (that most don't have) twice.

 

[Red Plume]

Seems like if they were indeed serious, the Commission would work on some sort of a calendar target, where FM stations would shut off their analog modulation, allowing the subsequent digital use of the entire carrier. At least get the conversation started, rather than nibbling around the edges. That way stations wouldn't need to spend tons of capital (that most don't have) twice.

Well, gosh. That's the first time I heard mention of a conversion to all-digital on FM from the FCC.

Going to the source Order And Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking [1], it says:

"Although we have stated repeatedly that there is no timetable for this eventual change to all-digital broadcast radio—and do not alter that stance in any way today—our objective remains to advance the progress of digital radio without causing harmful interference or disruption to existing analog operations." (emphasis added)

This makes me think that they would entertain the idea of allowing new stations to sign on as all-digital FM.

Source:
[1] "In the Matter ofModifying Rules for FM Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems", paragraph 12: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-23-61A1.pdf

 

[JJSPC]

Again you have the problem with "All Digital FM" of who's going to be buying radios/receivers capable of hearing it.
In 2023, almost no one.

 

[Michi]

Unlike digital television and the better picture and sound, there is no public outcry for digital radio, especially when the public's first taste of such was Sirius/XM. I expect FM to remain hybrid for years/decades to come.

 

[TheBigA]

This makes me think that they would entertain the idea of allowing new stations to sign on as all-digital FM.

That's not my interpretation at all. It sounds like a power increase for HD-2. They don't use the term HD-2 because it's a reference to a trademarked service owned by xperi. But they're not in any way talking about replacing one with the other. All of the tests they reference were with HD-2s.

 

[Red Plume]

Again you have the problem with "All Digital FM" of who's going to be buying radios/receivers capable of hearing it.
In 2023, almost no one.

Doesn't a significant number of new cars come with HD as the stock radio? I rent cars often and almost all of them have it (at least from the company I usually rent from).

 

[Red Plume]

But they're not in any way talking about replacing one with the other.

That's strange that they would reference All-Digital FM specifically as an eventual replacement for analog but not mean it [1].

[1] "In the Matter of Modifying Rules for FM Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems", paragraph 12: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-23-61A1.pdf

(edited to add source)

 

[TheBigA]

That's strange that they would reference All-Digital FM specifically as an eventual replacement for analog but not mean it.

I think they deal with that in the quote you included in your post. AFAIK there are no all digital FM stations, only all digital AMs.

Who would go through all the expense and regulation to sign on an all-digital FM from scratch that would have only a fraction of the audience it could have with its licensed analog signal? Where is the benefit?

 

[Red Plume]

I think they deal with that in the quote you included in your post. AFAIK there are no all digital FM stations, only all digital AMs.

In paragraph 12, it says:
"We reiterate that the Commission initiated the process of authorizing digital broadcast operations in 1999 with the eventual goal of moving terrestrial broadcasting from an all-analog to an all-digital world."

And you are correct, there are no All-Digital FM band stations.

 

[TheBigA]

In paragraph 12, it says:
"We reiterate that the Commission initiated the process of authorizing digital broadcast operations in 1999 with the eventual goal of moving terrestrial broadcasting from an all-analog to an all-digital world."

I'm not sure they're correct about that at all. I'd like to hear that from someone who was at the FCC at that time for a better assessment of their intentions. I'm not aware that any of the commissioners had that view at the time. My recollection was that congress didn't feel that way.

 

[Red Plume]

I'm not sure they're correct about that at all. I'd like to hear that from someone who was at the FCC at that time for a better assessment of their intentions. I'm not aware that any of the commissioners had that view at the time. My recollection was that congress didn't feel that way.

It's the first time I've heard All-Digital FM used by the FCC.

 

[davideduardo]

That's not my interpretation at all. It sounds like a power increase for HD-2. They don't use the term HD-2 because it's a reference to a trademarked service owned by xperi. But they're not in any way talking about replacing one with the other. All of the tests they reference were with HD-2s.

All HD from 1 to 3 is a single digital and sharable signal. You increase HD power and all You have it divided into… one… two… or three… increase.

 

[davideduardo]

Doesn't a significant number of new cars come with HD as the stock radio? I rent cars often and almost all of them have it (at least from the company I usually rent from).

Yes, but over half of radio listening is not in cars. Gonna sacrifice that?

 

[Red Plume]

Yes, but over half of radio listening is not in cars. Gonna sacrifice that?

That was in response to a post that said no one in 2023 buys HD radios, when it seems more are sold now than ever, as stock in cars.

 

[Kelly A]

Again you have the problem with "All Digital FM" of who's going to be buying radios/receivers capable of hearing it.
In 2023, almost no one.

Anyone who buys a new car with built in HD radio.

 

[Kelly A]

Here's another way of looking at it. Not that I'm necesarily condoning this, but...
What if the Feds just decided on a sunset year for analog AM and FM radio? Kind of like they did with analog TV to DTV. Seems to me it could go a combination of three ways: 1. Forces listeners to come up to speed with more modern technology, also elevates radio as a top of mind media again because the listener must take action. (Similar happened with TV) 2. It reduces the total number of marginal stations just hanging around who are unwilling or unable to update their facilities. 3. Worst case is it could cause listeners to move to more streaming but since most larger market stations already stream, the change amounts to just a different form of 'transmission'.

 

[TheBigA]

What if the Feds just decided on a sunset year for analog AM and FM radio? Kind of like they did with analog TV to DTV.

I'm not sure the FCC has the authority to sunset something they're supposed to regulate. That sounds like a job for congress.

When the TV thing happened, it was because they found a purpose for the old spectrum. No such thing here.

 

[Kelly A]

I'm not sure the FCC has the authority to sunset something they're supposed to regulate. That sounds like a job for congress.

When the TV thing happened, it was because they found a purpose for the old spectrum. No such thing here.

But this amounts to a form of modulation really. The station and the channel remain to regulate. What this could potentially also do, is force also-rans off the band, allowing for AM stations to migrate to FM digital.
You're right that the motivation is different, but I found it interesting that the Commission went so far as to make the statement that their goal is to move radio digital....eventually.

 

[davideduardo]

Here's another way of looking at it. Not that I'm necesarily condoning this, but...
What if the Feds just decided on a sunset year for analog AM and FM radio? Kind of like they did with analog TV to DTV. Seems to me it could go a combination of three ways: 1. Forces listeners to come up to speed with more modern technology, also elevates radio as a top of mind media again because the listener must take action. (Similar happened with TV) 2. It reduces the total number of marginal stations just hanging around who are unwilling or unable to update their facilities. 3. Worst case is it could cause listeners to move to more streaming but since most larger market stations already stream, the change amounts to just a different form of 'transmission'.

The problem here is that nearly half (and increasing) of OTA radio usage is done using receivers that are integrated into really expensive "cases" which we normally call "cars" and "trucks".

Who is going to pay to retrofit 260,000,000 licensed vehicles in the US?