MOST ENDORSE DAB TECHNOLOGY; SOME CONCERNS REMAIN
NPR and Va. Center for Public Press (VCPP) continued to call for more spectrum and more testing, respectively, for in-band, on-channel (IBOC) digital audio broadcasting (DAB) technology in latest round of FCC comments on DAB, but other broadcasters and others said concerns were unfounded.
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VCPP continued to question quality of testing on DAB done by National Radio Systems Committee as well as its spectrum efficiency, saying it would hurt FM signal quality: “The Commission makes a serious error in assuming that the existing protected contours should be used for determining the impact of IBOC interference on existing FM users.” It said many FM consumers with high-end receivers listen to distant stations: “IBiquity IBOC would ruin reception for these listeners.” Instead, it said, FCC should provide new spectrum for DAB.
NPR also continued to press for new spectrum for DAB, as well as additional testing of DAB’s effect on subcarrier services such as reading services and of interference. NPR said FCC should reject suggestion that each station face expense of solving any interference complaints lodged by any listener, saying that “would impose open-ended liability… greatly increasing the cost of converting to IBOC DAB.”
NAB said VCPP “misrepresents” subjective evaluation of IBOC in testing process, saying testing “followed accepted scientific and psychoacoustic principles.” It also said NPR was “virtually alone” in seeking additional spectrum (TV Ch. 6) for DAB, and Ch. 6 would be better used for DTV transition. Testing, it said, showed no additional spectrum was needed for DAB. “Overwhelming weight” of first-round comments on IBOC supported rapid introduction of terrestrial DAB, NAB said, so broadcasters encouraged FCC to move quickly on approving system and setting service rules.
IBOC still must face formal standard-setting process, CEA said, and it’s “imperative” that eventual standard be endorsed by FCC: “Without such clarity, manufacturers will be reluctant to devote significant resources to IBOC.” CEA also said FCC should set rules for auxiliary data on DAB, including ensuring that main audio programming was transmitted over DAB, preventing leasing all DAB capacity to unrelated data services.
IBOC developer iBiquity said support for IBOC was so strong FCC should authorize interim IBOC operations, which it said wouldn’t limit agency’s final DAB decision. It said some of other regulatory issues raised in early comments didn’t need to be resolved now. Meanwhile, group of public broadcasters representing 170 stations raised concerns about iBiquity license fees for technology, saying fees would displace resources that could be used to improve programming. It said FCC should determine that public broadcaster fees would be one-tenth of fees paid by commercial stations.