Press: FCC Shouldn't Act on Digital FM Power Increase Proposal
NAB and Xperi's proposal for higher digital FM power levels (see 2301130053) would lead to increased interference on the already burdened FM band, said New Jersey radio broadcaster Press Communications in an ex parte letter posted Friday in docket 22-405.…
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“The public interest in this matter can best be served” by the FCC “doing nothing,” Press said. NAB and Xperi’s petition has gone through the public comment process, but the agency hasn’t otherwise acted on it. Through the waiver process, the FCC can authorize some changes in the proposal, Press said. “Blanket increases of digital signal levels” will “destroy long established and proven listening patterns to existing analog FM stations,” said Press: “This will be especially damning to lower power Class A broadcasters, AM operators with FM translators” and low-power FMs. The FCC should instead look to help Class A FM and AM stations, or exempt the crowded FM band in New Jersey from the rule, Press said. The broadcaster condemned the increasing use of FM translators by HD radio stations, and said the impact of the proposal on AM stations using FM translators should have been studied. Press said: “Contrary to what the Petitioners would like everyone to believe, in a situation where the FM band has already been overwhelmed and saturated with additional services, there is no such thing as benign added interference.”