"Naysayers" Propose Workable Solution to AM IBOC Debacle

[Play Freebird]

Interesting development. A group of well-respected broadcast engineers (who refuse to accept that AM IBOC is here to stay) formally submitted a plan that closely mirrors my thoughts of the last couple of years: Forget about IBOC in the medium-wave band, but instead, use 76-88 MHz for AM digital, LPFM, and an expansion of the NCE-FM band.

Their well researched FCC filing will take a while to digest, but take a good look and let us know your thoughts:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520036279

They've included a tentative allotment table for every existing AM station and found substitute UHF channels for the remaining TV 5 and 6 stations. Reply comments are due August 29.

 

[kenglish]

But, how can they call it AM digital, LPFM or NCE-FM ? ;D

Otherwise, I think it could be a viable solution. But, I hope it won't become a catch-all band for every odd, non-analog programmer out there. I'd like to see some requirements for local origination, priority to primarily-music formats, etc.

Now, if the FCC could get back in to the game of regulating interference and tech parameters, we could again use the AM BCB for something, too.

 

[Carmine5]

It's a fascinating proposal and very well presented and argued.

They mention that each FM station on Ch. 5,6, as a digital-only service, would have 100 Mhz of bandwidth. I wonder if simply eliminating analog FM entirely and re-allocating the spacing along with Ch. 6 at 100 Mhz wouldn't be sufficient to accommodate all the services listed: FM, NCE, LPFM, translators and AM. Leave Ch. 5 for other services.

They also mention allowing AM stations who remain on that band, 20 Mhz as well as giving 1500-1700 over to LPAM (500 watts day/250 watts night). There's something for everyone here.

If this comes to pass, I'd like to see AM stations transition to FM quickly, giving up their AM channel in the process. Not like what has happened with the X-band where AM stations that opted to migrate were allowed to keep both or transition over many, many years.

Of course, you can bet that the NAB and media conglomerates will hate this proposal since hegemony has been their MO since consolidation began.

But this proposal represents real, out-of-the-box, forward-thinking that, I believe, will ultimately benefit everyone.

C5

 

[Play Freebird]

If this comes to pass, I'd like to see AM stations transition to FM quickly, giving up their AM channel in the process. Not like what has happened with the X-band where AM stations that opted to migrate were allowed to keep both or transition over many, many years.

To make this happen "quickly", the FCC and/or Congress must mandate that all new receivers include the ability to receive the extended band. This might be more feasible if a reserved public safety channel were included in the new band AND receiver royalties weren't unreasonable, like iBiquity's.

Keep in mind that the median age of a registered vehicle is about ten years, so it would take at least 15 years for enough factory installed receivers to hit the market for medium wave analog operation to cease. My vehicles are 10 and 12 years old and I have no plans to replace them anytime soon, as they still run fine.

Concerning royalties, it's clear that the commenters don't want the iBiquity HD standard to be used in the new band, but I sense that they would consider DRM+, because that fits into a 100 kHz channel. DRM+ has also been tested extensively by European broadcast agencies who favor sound engineering over half-truths and hype.

 

[DStroyer]

"KYW... NEWSRADIO.... EIGHTY-SIX-POINT-TWOOOOOOOOOO!!"

I like it. Make it happen

 

[rbrucecarter5]

To make this happen "quickly", the FCC and/or Congress must mandate that all new receivers include the ability to receive the extended band.

Everybody has to buy new radios for HD AM and FM right now. Almost nobody has. So there is little difference in alloting a new band vs. destroying the present bands like they are doing now. People buy new radios that have the new digital band - leave present AM and FM alone - problem solved. This whole debacle could have been avoided easily.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

If this comes to pass, I'd like to see AM stations transition to FM quickly, giving up their AM channel in the process. Not like what has happened with the X-band where AM stations that opted to migrate were allowed to keep both or transition over many, many years.

NO! AM skywave is an important service in the remote areas of the Western 2/3 of the country, and in Alaska. Those listeners need the AM band as-is, only unincumbered by HD hash.

 

[softmachine]

Interesting development. A group of well-respected broadcast engineers (who refuse to accept that AM IBOC is here to stay) formally submitted a plan that closely mirrors my thoughts of the last couple of years: Forget about IBOC in the medium-wave band, but instead, use 76-88 MHz for AM digital, LPFM, and an expansion of the NCE-FM band.

Their well researched FCC filing will take a while to digest, but take a good look and let us know your thoughts:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520036279

They've included a tentative allotment table for every existing AM station and found substitute UHF channels for the remaining TV 5 and 6 stations. Reply comments are due August 29.

The NAB will crush this for sure, as this will open up allocations for new channels-and players. The very reason IBOC exists is this measure for outlet exclusivity-they want to hold on to their real estate.

 

[TheBigA]

The NAB will crush this for sure, as this will open up allocations for new channels-and players. The very reason IBOC exists is this measure for outlet exclusivity-they want to hold on to their real estate.

Somehow, they managed to handle it without chaos for TV, didn't they? Of course we're talking about a whole lot fewer applications to process.

I really don't think this is about holding on to real estate. Most of the NAB members are in sell mode right now.

The stations who would really object are the non-commercial community stations who can't afford all the paperwork, and wouldn't be able to afford all the capital equipment required for the change.

I think part of it is the FCC isn't looking to create extra work for itself, and they really don't care about radio. It's all one huge boil on their collective butt.

 

[Carmine5]

If this comes to pass, I'd like to see AM stations transition to FM quickly, giving up their AM channel in the process. Not like what has happened with the X-band where AM stations that opted to migrate were allowed to keep both or transition over many, many years.

NO! AM skywave is an important service in the remote areas of the Western 2/3 of the country, and in Alaska. Those listeners need the AM band as-is, only unincumbered by HD hash.

Well, how about the 26 Mhz band with DRM which, as we know, is being tested in Alaska with just that purpose in mind?

Besides, according to this proposal, not all AM stations would migrate to FM. If it serves the public interest better to stay on AM then they can do that and receive an extra 10 Mhz of bandwidth in the process.

But as Freebird says, although not mentioned, it's obvious that DRM+ is what these engineers had in mind. And it only makes sense. For digital radio to grow it needs a system that has been proven to work in all bands and is unencumbered by such controlling baggage as exorbitant license fees and authorization codes.

It will be interesting to see what the FCC makes of this proposal. It certainly fits all their criteria with regards to minority ownership, LPFM expansion, protecting full-power FMs, a workable solution for AM and a digital path to the future for radio.

What is there not to like?

C5

 

[TheBigA]

What is there not to like?

They didn't come up with it.

 

[Savage]

I agree with you, BigA. The FCC will reflexively resist this because (a) it's a lot more work for (b) not a lot more revenue. But this is an excellent proposal which makes enormous sense on every front.

Here's what will turn the tide: the first IBOC interference lawsuit. Any federal suit for damages, even during its early pendency, will stop HD Radio like a Prius hitting a bridge abutment at 90 mph. Nobody will buy HD if they're buying a potential lawsuit. From what I'm reading here and elsewhere there isn't much HD momentum to stop anyway.

When HD looks undeniably dead, that's when ex-Alliance members will look outside IBOC to find solutions for AM, and when this proposal could gain a head of steam. Nothing much is going to happen at the Commission until "Doogie Howser" Martin gets the heave-ho anyway.

 

[KB1OKL]

When HD looks undeniably dead, that's when ex-Alliance members will look outside IBOC to find solutions for AM, and when this proposal could gain a head of steam. Nothing much is going to happen at the Commission until "Doogie Howser" Martin gets the heave-ho anyway.

It's obviously dead now, just that some people don't have enough sense to know when to stop pushing.

 

[TheBigA]

Nothing much is going to happen at the Commission until "Doogie Howser" Martin gets the heave-ho anyway.

I wouldn't expect much to happen afterwards either.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Here's what will turn the tide: the first IBOC interference lawsuit. Any federal suit for damages, even during its early pendency, will stop HD Radio like a Prius hitting a bridge abutment at 90 mph. Nobody will buy HD if they're buying a potential lawsuit.

So...when will you be filing? (Can't be soon enough for me.)

 

[clouseau]

They've included a tentative allotment table for every existing AM station ...

Indeed they have. IMHO, there's lots of reason not to do this. And frankly I don't think the FCC will go for it, just because it's really too complicated for people like the actual commissioners to get a good grasp of it. That, and it will be savagely attacked. degraded and ridiculed by some station owners.

It's not possible to "Discuss" this proposal overall without breaking it into small pieces. Here's just one.

The AM allocation table.

Wow. I don't envy anyone trying to reclassify all these stations. But I can see there's going to be some real trouble with it. Let's look at Philadelphia, et al.

There's some big winners and some losers as well. KYW anbd WCAU get "Z". OK. WIP and WFIL get "C" status. Seems fair. WWJZ with 50 KW days and under 1000 watts nights gets a gift to "C".

On to the "B"'s. Here's where it gets real squirrly (IMHO). 50kwD 10KwN WNTP gets "B" So does 25KwD 21KwN WPEN (CP for 43Kw Day). I guess you have to draw a line somewhere. But we have daytimers 50KW WNWR 10KwD, WWDB 10KwD and 4.8 KwD WNAP as B's also. Even lowly 1Kw daytimer WPHE gets a "B" gift.

Now I understand this was done based on day signals. And that the bottom of the dial gets a lot more distance than the top. But when WPHE = WNTP and WPEN, there's going to be a LOT of yelling. I suspect herding cats may prove to be a cakewalk compared to getting agreement on this allotment plan.

Other items of note as I randomly checked...

50 KW WINS News York CIty. "B"
50 KW WEPN New York City. "B"
Ouch!

I like the overall idea, but it's going to be really tough to get the existing broadcasters to agree.

Clouseau

 

[Savage]

"Savagely attacked!" I get it! But I do like the plan. I think it shows eminent common sense and thoughtful engineering. You know, the qualities which HD Radio so lacked it sealed the system's doom.

 

[Play Freebird]

I'm just tickled that I get to be a "B", just like my competitor Savage!

 

[arnoldevns]

This is a very well thought out proposal. I like it, but also offer one small question/concern: what about areas that rely on AM skywave reception? I know it's not a lot of people, but there's a part of me that likes the idea of being able to tune in stations from a long ways off. In some cases that's been very helpful when there's been a hurricane or other disaster that's disrupted local radio broadcasts. It's also a big benefit to truckers and others traveling on the roads at night.

Even though I think most AM stations are suffering because many people don't tune to the band anymore, I don't want to see the AM service go away completely.

 

[clouseau]

"Savagely attacked!" I get it! But I do like the plan. I think it shows eminent common sense and thoughtful engineering...

Glad you're smiling, Bob. The reference was inadvertant. In fact when I read your post I thought.... "Damn I hope I don't have one of those inadvertant Caps I'm famous for..."

As the geek with the 29 sided dice says.. "I'm still alive".

My initial response is - I like the plan. However in fairness, you can't speed read it once and formulate an intelligent opinion. I also could live without relocating LPFM. How about "LPFM can migrate" or if they decline then they lose protection (Which they don't have now) and live where they are.

While this issue doesn't strike me as an "HD BOARD" issue, it's fascinating. Congrats to you, Bob on your upgrade to parody with WINS. And they say the last 30Kw are the hardest.

I hope a groundswell of radio people support this and get it passed. I give it a Single digit chance of passage at best.

Clouseau