The FCC has asked for comments and set July 23 as the deadline in response to the recommendations by the Ad Hoc AM Antenna Performance Verification Coalition. Comments that have already been filed, including the Coalition’s, may be viewed at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/websql/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.hts and entering the docket number 93-177 in the search field. Your comments may be entered at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi
More details are available in a previous AMBAND.ORG article on the subject.
The FCC has issued its Second Report and Order authorizing regular IBOC transmissions for AM and FM stations. The Report specifically authorized AM stations to operate during their regular night hours of operation with IBOC. There were a lot of additional issues covered, concerning FM, datacasting and multicasting. In the hybrid mode AM IBOC does not support multicasting, but limited rate datacasting can be accommodated.
The AM Directional Antenna Performance Coalion’s recommendations have been recieved and added to the record of MM Docket 93-117. These recommendations are to permit a large portion of AM stations with directional antennas to determine that the antenna performance conforms to the requirements for licensing using a much simplified procedure. The draft rules are available at :
The present way that an AM station demonstrates that its antenna has the desired directional pattern is by making extensive field intensity measurements in the area within 16 km of the transmitter site. The proposed method would permit stations meeting…
Arbitron and Edison Media Research have conducted a study on the impact of alternate radio-like delivery methods, such as:Â iPods, audio streaming, etc. You can download the report here.
- The report finds: Internet radio listening has increased 50% in the last year
- Internet radio reaches 19% of 18-34’s weekly
- Both XM and Sirius are recognized by more than 60% of the public
- Satellite listeners are an upscale audienc: 27% have incomes over $100k
- There is confusion between podcasting, internet radio and downloadable music
- More than half of…
I wrote an article in Radio World concerning the full digital versions of IBOC.
Radio Ink has reported that the FCC has presented its final IBOC rules. From the initial release on the FCC website:
- There will be no schedule for mandatory conversion to digital
- AM Night will be authorized
- FM stations can use extended digital hybrid mode
- Stations must simulcast a digital signal at least as good a analog
- Stations can use a flexible bandwidth policy – digicasting, multichannel, etc.
- Brokering is OK, with restrictions
- Same program content rules as main channels – no swearing, fake contests, political access, etc.
- The FCC is looking for comment on some remaining issues:Â Limits on…
Radio website reports that WGNS-AM of Murfreesboro, TN has also gotten an STA to operate two translators to repeat its station. According to an article in Murfreesboro’s Daily News Journal, the owner of WGNS, Bart Walker, attributes getting the STA to the fact that Murfreesboro native Deborah Taylor-Tate is now on the FCC.
According to the Broadcast Law Blog, the FCC has issued a Special Temporary Authority to duplicate its AM signal on an FM translator. Apparently, the station got a jump on the pending rulemaking through pressure by its congressman, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C. This may indicate that the FCC is seriously considering approving the pending rulemaking, RM-9419, that would permit AM stations to rebroadcast on FM translators. It is disturbing to hear, however, that congressional pressure has succeeded in having the FCC grant an STA that yeilds facilities that are proposed to be permitted…
Congress’ change to the dates for Daylight Savings Time has madePre-Sunrise authorizations more important than ever. Operation of daytime stations and fulltime stations with weak night power is seriously impacted. Daylight will come even later in the morning this March and next October and November, and for each year thereafter.
As I reported earlier, the FCC’s Pre-Sunrise and Post Sunset Authorization calculator…
Congress changed Daylight Savings time to begin three weeks earlier and end three weeks later. This means that for three weeks this month and again in October many daytime only stations don’t sign on until after 7AM. The FCC recalculated Pre SunRise and Post SunSet Authorizations (PSRA and PSSA) to try to avoid the obvious impact to these stations. The FCC ran its modified PSRA/PSSA calculator and re-issued all the PSSA and PSRAs. Unfortunately, the FCC’s program was buggy and all these authorizations have been recinded.
Now it appears that not only is the program buggy,…
