[IRCA] IBAC at night: The rules have changed

[kevin redding <big_h00pla@xxxxxxxxx>]

FCC Adopts Final HD Radio Rules

The FCC this morning adopted final digital radio regulations that  
allow FM radio stations to commence digital multicast operation  
without prior FCC approval, and which permit AM stations – which have  
been limited to daytime-only digital operation – to commence hybrid  
digital nighttime operations.

The order also permits FM stations to use separate analog and digital  
antennas without applying for special temporary authority, and  
permits FM stations to operate in the "extended" hybrid mode, which  
affords an extra 50kb of space of data carrying capability.

Additionally, FM booster and Low Power FM stations are now permitted  
to operate digitally.

The order requires all stations operating in digital to offer a free  
digital signal that is comparable in quality to its analog signal,  
and that stations digitally simulcast all content heard on the analog  
signal.

The FCC also adopted what it called a "flexible bandwidth" policy  
that allows stations to transmit multicast signals and data streams  
at their discretion.

In a move that could prove lucrative to broadcasters, the FCC will  
allow stations to lease additional bandwidth to third parties,  
subject to certain regulatory requirements.

The commission also extended all existing emergency alert, political  
broadcasting, station identification, and sponsorship identification  
rules to all free digital program streams.

The agency held back on enforcing a mandatory digital conversion  
schedule on radio stations, and doesn't allow stations to convert to  
exclusive digital operations at this juncture.

The order defers a decision on whether the FCC should impose content  
control requirements on archiving and redistributing digital  
broadcast recordings aired by digital radio stations since industry  
negotiations on the issue are ongoing.

The decision comes eight months after the FCC unceremoniously pulled  
back from releasing the rules over wrangling among the commissioners  
over whether to impose new public interest obligations on digital  
radio broadcast. Under today's order, no new public interest  
obligations were adopted.

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