Broadcasters Petition FCC to Boost Digital Radio Signals

A large collection of commercial and non-commercial radio broadcasters is petitioning the Federal Communications Commission in support of a proposed power increase for digital FM HD Radio broadcasts across the country. "As HD Radio technology moves further toward the mainstream, it's crucial that we continue to add new features and enhance the technology's basic capabilities," says iBiquity Digital representative Michele Clarke. iBiquity is the developer and licenser of HD Radio technology. "Working with the broadcast industry and equipment makers, iBiquity Digital has completed extensive testing on higher-power FM HD Radio broadcasts and the results are clear. Increasing from one percent to 10 percent of analog broadcast power greatly improves digital performance without meaningfully increasing interference." With the filing, broadcasters and equipment makers argue that it's time to increase the power devoted to FM HD Radio broadcasts. The initial HD Radio rollout was structured to ensure minimal interference of analog signals while also offering a strong digital service, and with the first gone smoothly, there was minimal interruption of traditional radio broadcasts.
http://www.cedailynews.com/2008/06/broadcasters-pe.html