Inevitable but too bad in a way.  It will be harder than ever to hear my
belover WGN now so i guess I'll have to swallow hard and put the real player
back on the system.  Lou WA3MIX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 5:35 PM
Subject: Fw: [NYDXA-List] FCC Approves IBOC Go Ahead


> This may be old news to some of you, but it's the first I've heard of it,
> and I thought I'd share it with the list.
>
> Steve
>
> ========================================
>
> From the MT American Bandscan blog website:
>
> Thursday, March 22, 2007
> Nighttime AM IBOC approved - final IBOC rules adopted
>
> The Radio Ink online news site reports the FCC has this morning approved
> final
> rules for digital terrestrial radio in the US.
>
> Read the link for more details. A few highlights:
>
> No prior FCC approval is necessary to begin digital operation.
>
> AM stations, previously limited to daytime-only digital operation, will be
> allowed to run their digital signals at night.
>
> Stations must offer at least one free-to-air program stream, simulcasting
> their analog signal. Additional program streams may be broadcast, either
> free
> or subscription (FM only; AM IBOC lacks the technical ability to
multicast).
>
> Content rules - EAS, legal IDs, etc. - will be applied to all streams of
the
> IBOC signal.
>
> Digital-only stations will not be allowed at this time (apparently this
will
> stymie the plans of North Carolina stations WHDX and WHDZ which had
> reportedly
> planned to sign on as digital-only operations). IBOC stations must
maintain
> their analog operations.
>
> No deadline has been set for shutting down analog radio and going
> digital-only.
>
> The FCC has not yet released a Public Notice on this (keep an eye on the
FCC
> website). Usually, this kind of proceeding takes effect 30 days after
> publication in the Federal Register; said publication will take between a
> few
> days and a week. So one might expect AM stations to begin operating in
> digital
> mode at night in about 5 weeks, around the beginning of May. I would not
> rule
> out the possibility of stations that are already operating IBOC during the
> day
> receiving Special Temporary Authority to engage in nighttime digital
> operation
> before the new rules go into effect. Indeed, I would not rule out blanket
> Special Temporary Authority to cover all IBOC stations.
>
> Many of the 50kw clear-channel stations are already equipped for IBOC and
> will
> likely begin operating at night as soon as the rules go into effect. The
> likely result will be massive interference in the 640-1220 and
1500-1580KHz
> bands. I don't see the new rules spurring many stations to add IBOC
though,
> if
> they aren't already running it. IBOC is not particularly popular among the
> smaller stations in 540-630, 1230-1490, or above 1580KHz and I don't think
> it
> will become so particularly quickly.
>
> I guess time will tell.
>
> --
> Charles J. Hargrove - N2NOV
> NYC ARECS/RACES Citywide Radio Officer/Skywarn Coord.
> US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 5-10 VFC & Div 5 Comms Officer