HD Radio proponents ask for, and get, major digital power increase; First adjacents get minor protection
The Media Bureau has dramatically increased the power level for IBOC digital FM service (the service known in the marketplace as “HD Radio”).�In so doing, the Bureau effectively dismissed, or at least minimized, serious interference concerns expressed by non-HD stations (particularly those operating on channels first adjacent to HD stations).�While the increased HD power authorizations will still be subject to a complaint process which could theoretically reduce maximum power available in certain situations, that complaint process – at least at first glance – falls short of everything a victim of interference might have hoped for.
The Bureau has decided that “eligible stations” should be permitted to increase their digital power by 6 dB – meaning that their digital power can move – pretty much with no questions asked – from the current maximum ERP of 20 decibels below carrier (-20 dBc) to -14 dBc.�Once the new rule becomes “effective”, eligible stations will be permitted to go to that -14 dBc limit without any prior approval, as long as they file a notification of the increase through CDBS within 10 days.�While the revised power increase rule...
Source: CommLawBlog
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