|
|
 |
|
|
|
FCC Adopts Final HD Radio Rules
The FCC Thursday 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.
Comment on this story
E-mail this story to a friend
Sign up for Radio Headlines
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From the Publisher
|
|
|
