NAB, Aviation Stakeholders to Propose Digital FM Interference Plan

and several aviation trade groups posted in docket 22-405. The Aerospace Industries Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and NAB ”intend to report back to the Commission and relevant staff within the Media Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau regarding our joint progress and any concrete results arising from our collective efforts as soon as possible,” said the joint letter. The FCC should proceed with plans to allow increased digital FM power levels “on a separate track” and not allow the aviation interference concerns to “unreasonably” impede the expansion of digital radio service, NAB said. Potential interference to airplane instruments “is confined to the small subset of digital FM stations that operate on 107.9 MHz,” NAB said. NAB, iHeartCommunications and several other broadcasters also said the FCC shouldn’t create new interference reporting procedures for digital FM stations. They also said the agency shouldn’t restrict the degree “super-powered” FM stations -- those that already operate with power levels in excess of their class, largely due to grandfathering -- can increase the power of their digital FM signal. Press Communications said the FCC has a duty to protect Class A FM stations from possible increased interference from digital FM stations. The push for increased power by digital FM companies such as Xperi is motivated by profit and would come “at the expense of small broadcasters,” Press said.