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[IRCA] IBAC at night: The rules have changed
- Subject: [IRCA] IBAC at night: The rules have changed
- From: kevin redding <big_h00pla@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:52:52 -0700
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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