Another step for IBOC
The FCC has brought a ubiquitous digital radio standard a little closer to being a reality.
License? Who needs a license?
A pirate LPFM station in Goldfield, NV, operated by Rod Moses, has shown radio pirates how to circumvent the FCC rules.
The consumer view of digital media
Set adrift in the sea of gadgets and gizmos, my main quest was to gauge the presence of HD Radio at the CES convention. The good news: HD Radio has finally made a mark.
Save the birds, but save the towers
We can protect the migratory birds, but it’s important to prevent an unnecessary rulemaking from becoming a tremendous burden to all broadcasters.
How to make HD Radio succeed: do nothing
Broadcasters, Ibiquity and the HD Digital Radio Alliance are all trying hard to make HD Radio a success. This is all good, but the truth is that for HD Radio to succeed, broadcasters should not have to do anything.
Who was first?
Simply asking "who was first?" doesn't always yield the correct answer. The truth is that KDKA and Marconi just marketed themselves better than the others.
What do consumers know?
It is encouraging to hear that more receivers are becoming available, although many of them will not be ready for the upcoming holiday season.
A report card on HD Radio
The last time I conducted my field study on HD Radio in the stores was in the August 2005 issue. Unfortunately, not much has changed.
Airways and airwaves
The FAA seeks greater control of some broadcast spectrum in a new proposal for rulemaking. It's troubling that the FAA NPRM deals with EMI in a broad way, but this fits with how the FAA has always viewed spectrum issues
Micromanaging the FCC
When it comes to regulating the radio spectrum, let the House and Senate raise their concerns, but let the FCC conduct its own business regarding third-adjacent channel protections.
More to digital radio
Digital radio isn't limited to IBOC and HD Radio. Satellite and Internet radio are part of it too, but there is still more to digital radio.
A quick recap of NAB2006
Here are some of the prevailing ideas and themes from NAB2006.
A Rosy Future for Radio
Bridge Ratings released its updated projections of consumer use of various forms of radio and digital media, and the results look good for radio -- at first glance.
Much Ado About HD Radio
I happened to flip through the 148-page Crutchfield catalog when it opened to page 23 and I saw a JVC car stereo with an LED readout that says HD RADIO. Could it be that this was the moment that so many people have dreamed about?
Missing something
CES was a chance to show people that terrestrial radio was just as important today as it ever was. Unfortunately, digital terrestrial radio missed a major opportunity to shine.
Better late than never
While the reasons for establishing the HD Digital Radio Alliance are valid, the Alliance should have been launched at least two years ago when the first digital receiver was sold.
Keep the HD Radio Rollout Simple
While radio waits for the mass rollout of receivers with HD Radio capability, personal electronics devices are bypassing terrestrial radio completely.
The current view
The various flavors of IBOC were common topics at the recent fall conventions. While many choose to deny it, the HD Radio rollout is here.
Getting it
While there are still many opponents to the Ibiquity system, even these people are beginning to acknowledge that the system is here and is seeing acceptance.
