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NAB, Automakers Urge FCC To Approve HD Power Boost
WASHINGTON -- December 8, 2008: In comments filed Friday with the FCC, the NAB said it supports a proposal filed earlier this year by a group of 18 radio broadcasters -- including Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Emmis, Greater Media, Radio One, Entercom, Lincoln Financial, and Beasley -- to allow HD Radio broadcasts to air at up to 10 percent of a station's analog power, a boost from the currently permitted 1 percent. Four leading electronics manufacturers also signed on to the proposal, which was accompanied by technical reports from HD Radio developer iBiquity Digital and CBS Radio.
The NAB says in its comments that when HD was authorized, the power levels were set "at an extremely low level, out of an abundance of caution and in order to conservatively introduce the new digital service and minimize any interference issues." Since then, says the NAB, there have been "virtually no reports" of harmful interference to existing broadcasters from HD.
The NAB filing continues, "Now, as part of a natural development of this proven but still evolving digital radio service, real-world experience has shown the need to extend coverage and boost reliability in certain situations." Upping the power, the NAB says, will improve coverage, make reception more reliable in moving vehicles, and strengthen signals for building penetration, and reception by portable devices and HD-equipped cellphones.
The NAB also points out that, with more than 85 percent of stations yet to convert to digital, "authorizing a power increase now will be more efficient because stations just starting HD service will be able to build fuller digital facilities and avoid the expense and disruption of a retrofit at a later point."
Ibiquity also filed comments in support of the proposal, saying, "Ibiquity believes that the power increase will enable broadcasters to bring the full benefit of HD Radio technology to the largest possible audience while maintaining the integrity of existing analog broadcasts and therefore urges the commission to expeditiously implement the power increase."
Automakers Weigh In
Ford Motor Co. also expressed its support for the upgrade, noting that it offers HD Radio as a dealer-installed option on most of its product lines and hopes to offer HD as original equipment "in the near future." Ford says HD Radio "can offer important benefits to consumers," through upgraded audio and multicast channels in particular, but adds, "Ford Motor Company remains concerned, however, that these benefits of HD Radio technology will not be accepted by the public unless HD Radio technology is able to replicate analog coverage in a greater number of cases."
While some stations have good coverage, the filing says, "There are a number of stations that are not able to replicate their analog coverage with the current configuration of the HD Radio system. These coverage problems are particularly problematic in a car environment." Says Ford, "Ford Motor Company believes a power increase would serve the public interest by improving the ability of the public to enjoy the benefits of HD Radio technology."
BMW of North America also filed comments, noting that it was the first automaker to offer HD Radio as an option and that it plans to include HD as standard in future models. BMW echoes Ford's comments about public acceptance and the greater susceptibility to intererence in cars, and writes, "BMW of North America encourages the FCC to authorize FM digital stations to operate at the proposed power level to offer consumers greater access to digital radio technology."
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