HD Radio Licensor, NPR Cement Deal at FCC on Power Boost
The licensor of HD Radio gear and National Public Radio (NPR) cemented a compromise they're asking the FCC to adopt as rules so commercial and non-commercial FM stations can boost digital power levels. As expected (CD Oct 15 p7), the agreement submitted to the commission Thursday would let stations transmit in digital at up to 4 percent of their maximum analog levels. That’s an increase of 300 percent and a boost by up to 6 dB to -14 dBc.
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Paving the way for FCC approval, NPR on Wednesday filed with the commission an interference study it conducted. Working group participants included executives from CBS, CEA, Clear Channel, CPB and Harris, the study said. In one test, participants listened to a series of 15-second audio clips while being driven at 35 and 60 miles an hour while rating the samples. “The study found that noise degradation and listener ratings worsen” as the ratio of desired to undesired (D/U) interference decreased, the report said. So-called super-power Class B stations with larger signal contours “can produce low D/U ratios within the 60 dBu contour of a first-adjacent FM neighbor,” meaning the blanket power increase may not be justified for them.
The agreement between NPR and iBiquity Digital “will allow the Commission to authorize an increase in digital power and at the same time minimize the occurrence and severity of interference to existing analog operations,” they said. IBiquity licenses technology for HD Radio broadcast equipment and consumer devices. The deal lets the regulator “enhance the continued rollout of digital service at the same time that it maintains its critical role protecting existing services.” Additional power increases “may be possible depending on conditions that limit harmful interference” and broadcasters that seek higher levels must show the commission they meet a mathematical engineering formula for in-band on-channel (IBOC) operations, the filing added. A group of broadcasters and equipment manufacturers had initially sought a 900 percent power increase.
IBiquity and NPR asked the FCC to require that harmful interference be resolved after another station complained. If the stations can’t reach a deal on a voluntary power reduction, “the Commission staff may order power reductions for the IBOC digital carriers,” the filing said. “The Media Bureau shall resolve each complaint within 90 days of filing” and if it doesn’t the interfering station must “immediately” reduce power, the document added.
The agency should “expeditiously authorize a digital power increase consistent with the framework,” iBiquity and NPR said. Their executives weren’t available to comment by our deadline. “We urge the FCC to move quickly,” an NAB spokesman said. “This will result in greatly improved indoor reception for digital signals, including multicast signals, and pave the way for greater service reliability using portable HD Radio devices.”