[opendtv] Re: FCC on revitalizing the AM band

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <brewmastercraig@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2015 08:21:05 -0400

On Oct 27, 2015, at 8:32 PM, Manfredi, Albert E <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


But no one is saying that whatever programming on the AM band now has to go
away, right? I mean, if nothing else, the likes of Rush will sound a whole
heck of a lot better than they do now (uuh, in terms of audio quality
anyway). And then others, not currently using the AM band, might just do so.
For music, even.

Actually there has already been a major migration of talk stations to FM, or to
AM/FM simulcasts. We are also seeing many regional FM services that simulcast
from multiple locations to increase their "market size."

I guess the larger question is whether we need AM radio at all.

I guess you're saying that there's no demand for any more radio spectrum?
Maybe that's true.

It looks like there is still demand, especially for FM, if only for AM stations
seeking to make the switch for quality and coverage reasons. Perhaps more
significant is the question of how much more "spectrum" can be "created" by
using more low power FM translators. My educated guess is that there is plenty
of spectrum to meet current and future demands for broadcast radio if the
allocated spectrum is used more efficiently.

But this still raises the question of what can be done with the AM band?


But now, HD Radios can be dirt cheap. Especially if this is done en masse.

Perhaps, but how do you then explain why it is nearly impossible to find HD
capable radios in anything but cars?

There are some smartphones that support analog FM, and a few that also support
HD radio, but they have not had much market impact. The reason should be
obvious - these mobile devices make it easy to enjoy both streaming services
and podcasts.

Seems that the marketplace has spoken...

HD Radio is basically a chip anymore. I realize that there's no particularly
high demand for the AM and FM frequency bands, as there is for the UHF TV
band, so the FCC has no obvious mandate to push for a change. But moi, as a
user of the bands, think it's way past high time for an update to these
bands.

Or do nothing and let them ride gracefully into the sunset. It may be horse and
buggy technology, but when people get in their "buggies" they still listen to
broadcast radio.

Which should be a travesty, in the longer term. Last I saw, the FCC *forbids*
individual stations from broadcasting only-digital. This is part of the
problem. It's a bit like the introduction of DTT. Initially, to continue
supporting analog, the digital is so compromised that a lot of people assume
digital doesn't work.

Why is efficient spectral reuse a travesty? If a station can build its audience
by operating some automated translators, why is that a problem?

Just because the HD Radio service did not create a market for receivers, does
not mean that consumers will not support expanded choice via the analog
receivers they own...

I think that HD Radio, somewhat similar to DRM in this regard, is a far
better way of transitioning to digital radio, and makes far better use of
these frequencies than DAB can do. Both HD Radio and DRM continue to use
spectrum that would otherwise be largely wasted.

Which raises the core issue here.

If the AM and FM bands are repurposed using digital technology, what should the
infrastructure look like, and what services can be created that the public will
support by buying new gadgets that use this new infrastructure?

Regards
Craig


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