The US took a step closer to the roll-out of digital radio at the end of last week, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a technology that will allow broadcasters to transmit digital signals along with their standard FM and AM broadcasts.
These simultaneous broadcasts of digital and analogue signals – called in-band, on-channel (IBOC) broadcasting – have been developed by iBiquity, the only remaining proponent of IBOC technology.
The IBOC broadcasts will not only allow ‘hybrid’ digital/analogue broadcasting, but should also improve sound quality, offering near-CD quality on FM broadcasts and FM quality on AM channels. These developments should help digital radio to get off the ground in the US, as the system avoids the need for spectrum to be reallocated from analogue to digital transmissions.
The first digital broadcasts are expected by the end of this year, although the digital audio broadcasting receiver equipment will not be available until next spring, according to reports.
“Radio broadcasters have been working toward a digital transition for more than a decade. Many broadcasters view digital operation not only as a technical opportunity, but as a competitive necessity. During the last few years, opinion in the radio broadcasting industry has consolidated strongly in favor of the IBOC approach. It is the only technology that will permit the rapid development and introduction of digital operations by radio broadcasters,” said the FCC’s report.
