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Re: [IRCA] Engineers’ Group Has an Idea: Move AMs to Channels 5 & 6
This would be a great idea! In the past the NAB has resisted the idea of
making a digital broadcast band in this channel 5 and 6 spectrum range,
ostensibly because the NAB viewed it unfair to have all broadcasters on
an equal footing (or so I understand). I wonder if things have changed.
Bill
Bruce Portzer wrote:
From Radio World Newsbytes dated 1 August 08.
It’s a dramatic idea that would change infrastructure reaching back to
the very roots of our industry.
A group made up primarily of broadcast consulting engineers proposes a
new use for TV Channels 5 and 6 in the United States once their
occupants migrate to digital. It recommends the reallocation of part
of that spectrum for the use of the country’s AM stations.
The group, calling itself the Broadcast Maximization Committee,
recommends the conversion and migration of all AM stations over an
extended period of time and with digital transmissions only.
It also proposes relocating the LPFM service to a portion of this
spectrum and expanding the NCE service into the adjacent portion.
The group made its proposal in a filing to the FCC as part of the
broadcast diversity proceeding (Docket 07-294). Comments in that
proceeding were due this week. Other organizations also have used the
proceeding to discuss how the radio spectrum should be structured; but
these comments are likely to draw new attention to the plight of AM
stations and possible ways to help the occupants of the senior band.
Engineering Consultant John Mullaney, a proponent of using Channels 5
and 6 for radio, is part of BMC. Noting that similar proposals to use
that space for radio stations have been dismissed by the commission as
premature until the DTV transmission is done, the group says the time
is ripe for this proposal.
Although LPFMs and NCE stations would benefit, AMs would gain the
most, the group contends. The proposal would move virtually all AM
stations to the new band.
The engineers lay out a plan under which all or most of the current AM
occupants would move and parts of the existing band would be
designated for users like municipalities and LPAM stations.
“For clear-channel (Class A) AM stations we are proposing that the FCC
will increase existing protections on the AM band and possibly
re-allocate the Class As that stay in such a way that they will have
enough protection from other AM stations so that they can operate HD
Radio day and night without creating interference,” BMC member Bert
Goldman told Radio World.
“This reduction in AM noise will allow the remaining Class A stations
to increase their daytime and nighttime interference-free service by
removing all other AM stations.”
Each channel is anticipated to be structured in such a way that the
station may decide if they want greater robustness of signal (and
greater coverage like in rural locations) or less robustness and up to
four program channels. BMC is not proposing a digital standard at this
time.
BMC has also proposed a way to move the estimated 24 post-transition
DTV stations out of Channels 5 and 6.
The proposal is signed by Mullaney, Goldman, Mark Lipp, Paul H.
Reynolds, Joseph Davis, Clarence Beverage, Laura Mizrahi, Lee Reynolds
and Alex Walsh.
More details of the migration idea are here
<http://www.radioworld.com/pages/s.0100/t.14795.html>.
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