The Chairwoman of the FCC has confirmed that, among the agenda items for its August Open Meeting, is a vote to seek comment on whether to change the way the Commission determines the maximum power for “digital FM broadcast stations.”
It could bring a welcome boost to HD Radio, and parent Xperi Corp., while giving digital multicast audio choices a shot in the arm.
Specifically, Jessica Rosenworcel said the Commission’s action is designed to improve digital FM radio service, powered by HD Radio in the U.S.
“Broadcasters and consumers increasingly prefer digital FM radio, which delivers better sound quality than traditional analog FM service,” Rosenworcel said. Hence, it’s teeing up the decision on whether or not the Commission should proceed with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking opening up a comment period. This would allow interested parties — including the NAB, Xperi Corp. and radio broadcasting companies — to say whether the change is needed or not.
The FCC also wishes to streamline the process for allowing digital transmissions at different power levels on the upper and lower digital sidebands. The goal: to improve digital FM signal quality and coverage while minimizing harmful interference.
While HD Radio reception is robust within 20-30 miles of a broadcast tower, the range is inferior to that of analog FM signals. This is particularly noticeable in Westchester County, N.Y., where its hills and valleys make HD Radio reception in towns such as Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley and Hastings-on-Hudson a challenge despite being just 40 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan by train.
Important suburban areas that may be in-between two metropolitan areas may also be prone to “drop-out” of HD Radio signals, making HD2, HD3 and so forth difficult choices for those wishing to consume those audio channels. At RBR+TVBR‘s headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., digital multicast stations tied to Miami and West Palm Beach radio stations vary greatly by reception, and in the car can fade depending on which direction one travels.
The announcement from Rosenworcel came after the FCC on Thursday morning partnered with the National Science Foundation to convene a forum on Artificial Intelligence. The focus of the event was on AI’s potential to do “real good for communications,” Rosenworcel said, from increasing spectrum efficiency to improving network resilience with new tools to self-diagnose and self-heal network anomalies before they become communications challenges.
The Commission’s August open meeting will be headlined by a proposal to explore some of these possibilities, as the four Commissioners will vote on whether or not to launch an inquiry to explore how the FCC might leverage new AI tools and other cutting-edge technologies and data sources to better understand the actual usage of non-federal spectrum bands.
Additionally, the Commission will vote to implement an Affordable Connectivity Program benefit of up to $75 a month for qualifying high-cost areas while considering an unspecified action from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau.
