FCC approves plan for digital radio

By DAVID HO

Oct 10, 2002 | Radio stations around the nation are preparing to adopt new digital technology that would give the medium its biggest makeover in decades by improving sound quality and supplying news and information on demand.

Digital radio's rollout could begin in a few months in major cities. Manufacturers plan to sell digital receivers in car stereos and high-end audio systems next year, adding about $100 to the price of a traditional unit.

Industry officials and analysts say they expect the Federal Communications Commission to approve on Thursday a digital radio standard created by iBiquity Digital Corp., a company backed by large broadcasters including ABC and Viacom.

It would be a huge surprise if they did not, said Laura Behrens, a research analyst with GartnerG2 in San Jose, Calif. She said backers of the technology are geared up and ready to go.

Supporters say the new technology will bring CD-quality sound to FM broadcasts, an end to static for AM and new data features.

Radio One Inc., which owns and operates 65 stations and primarily targets black listeners, has already ordered digital transmitters, said John Mathews, the company's director of engineering. He said the Lanham, Md.-based company plans to start digital broadcasts within three months in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit and Los Angeles.

We wanted to be in the front on this, he said. The quality improvement is just phenomenal. It's analogous to the transition between cassettes and CDs.

Some digital car stereos will have small screens, displaying pictures of the artist whose song is playing, news or advertising. Others will allow listeners to choose to hear reports on stocks, sports, weather and traffic.

The digital broadcasts will be free, unlike the subscriber services offered by Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, which beam music and talk to radios from satellites.

The iBiquity technology allows broadcasters to use their existing airwaves and simultaneously send digital and analog signals. Listeners won't have to buy a new radio to continue listening to their favorite stations, but will if they want better sound and other options.

Digital broadcasts use the same language as computers  a series of on and off electronic pulses. Broadcasts with the proposed technology won't increase a radio station's range, but digital signals can be cleaned up, removing garble and uneven reception.

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