Hi Tom and all,
I really think that HD radio is being forced on local broadcasters by the XM 
and serious satellite radio services.  If A M and FM radio is going to 
survive, it must compete with the quality of other media and digital radio, 
though it totally messes up the ability to hear weak signals on the A M and 
FM bands, does that.  Digital radio seems to be more efficient as the 
digital transmissions are only running 10% of the power of the main analog 
transmitter.
So, I'm trying to keep an opened mind and we'll have to wait and see just 
how things develop.  One thing that I do know is that HD radio receivers are 
not being snapped up by consumers, and that the satellite radio services are 
both in financial trouble also.
73
Bob, [log in to unmask], K8LR
Skype Name: bobtinn
Life is full of challenges, that's what makes it interesting!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day


    Bob and all:

For what it's worth, my two cents worth on the whole thing is that this is
really sad.

I can't figure out who, other than the marketers of HD radio, are
benefitting from this whole thing.

Considering the quality of AM radio today, I am not sure the general public
will be shouting for joy over this ruling.

You just have to wonder who's running the FCC today anyway!

I'm all for technological progress, but is this really productive and
beneficial to the general public as a whole?

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Tinney" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 12:29 AM
Subject: FCC aproves HD A M broadcasting 24 hours a day


> Hi,
> I know that this topic is not strictly amateur related, but I'll bet that
> 99.9% of us have done a lot of swl work and have listened to dx stations
> on
> the A M broadcast band.  The days of looking for DX on the A M band may
> end
> forever on September 14.  On that date, the FCC will allow HD stations to
> broadcast 24 hours a day.  Below is some quoted material from the Radio
> Mag
> online.
> "FCC Update
> FCC logo 1
> IBOC Rule Changes Kick in Sept. 14
> Publication of the FCC's Second Report and Order in the Federal Register
> on
> Aug.
> 16 means that the long-awaited IBOC digital radio rule changes will become
> the law
> of the land on Sept. 14.
> Among the most controversial new provisions will be the green light for
> 24-hour HD
> Radio hybrid operation on AM. Critics of Ibiquity's implementation of AM
> IBOC digital
> transmission have charged that many stations currently serving a
> significant
> audience
> within secondary nighttime coverage areas will lose that service area to
> digitally
> generated adjacent-channel interference. In a separate but related move
> announced
> just this week, the FCC appears to be addressing AM owner coverage
> anxieties
> by tendering
> an NPRM that would grant new FM repeater privileges to eligible AM
> licensees.
> Among other key provisions set to go into effect include the right for FMs
> to commence
> HD Radio multicasting without experimental authority grants and use of
> separate FM
> antennas for HD Radio hybrid operation without STAs.
> Other matters, such as specific public service requirements, limitations
> on
> and regulatory
> fee assessments for digital subscription services, and what role
> multicasting will
> play in any new ownership equation remain to be addressed by future
> rulemaking.
> Bob, [log in to unmask], K8LR
> Skype Name: bobtinn
> Life is full of challenges, that's what makes it interesting!
>