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 NEWS  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  News  Media  Contact:  October  10,  2002  Audrey  Spivack  202-  418-  0512 
 FCC  SELECTS  DIGITAL  RADIO  TECHNOLOGY  Authorizes  AM  and  FM  Interim,  Voluntary  Digital  Operation 
 Washington,  DC—  Today  in  a  First  Report  and  Order,  the  FCC  selected  in-  band,  on-  channel  (IBOC)  as  the  technology  that  will  bring  the  benefits  of  digital  audio  broadcasting  to  AM  and 
 FM  radio  broadcasters  efficiently  and  rapidly. 
 Also,  the  Commission  announced  notification  procedures  that  will  allow  AM  (daytime  operations  only)  and  FM  stations  on  a  voluntary  basis  to  begin  interim  digital  transmissions 
 immediately  using  the  IBOC  systems  developed  by  iBiquity  Digital  Corporation.  During  the  interim  IBOC  operations,  stations  will  broadcast  the  same  main  channel  program  material  in  both 
 analog  and  digital  modes. 
 After  extensive  tests,  the  National  Radio  Systems  Committee  endorsed  the  AM  and  FM  IBOC  systems  developed  by  iBiquity,  the  sole  remaining  IBOC  proponent.  IBOC  technology 
 permits  “hybrid”  operations,  the  simultaneous  transmission  of  analog  and  digital  signals  with  a  single  AM  and  FM  channel.  The  NRSC  tests  show  that  the  iBiquity  IBOC  systems  offer  better 
 audio  quality,  more  robust  signals,  and  the  potential  for  new  auxiliary  services.  According  to  system  supporters,  IBOC  technology  will  provide  near  CD-  quality  sound  on  FM  channels  and 
 FM  quality  on  AM  channels.  Hybrid  IBOC  operations  will  have  minimal  impact  on  the  present  broadcast  service. 


 The  Commission  announced  its  support  for  a  public  and  open  process  to  develop  formal  IBOC  AM  and  FM  standards.  It  also  deferred  consideration  of  IBOC  licensing  and  service  rule 
 changes  to  a  future  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking. 
 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. 
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 IBOC  is  spectrum  efficient.  It  allows  digital  operations  for  all  existing  broadcasters  with  no  new  spectrum  allocation  requirements.  The  FCC  noted  that  although  it  is  no  longer 
 considering  the  proposed  approach  of  requiring  new  spectrum  in  TV  Channel  6,  it  is  not  today  categorically  foreclosing  new  spectrum  options.  In  the  event  that  new  spectrum  is  identified  for 
 broadcast  use,  further  consideration  of  both  IBOC  and  non-  IBOC  out-  of-  band  digital  audio  broadcasting  approaches  may  be  warranted. 


 Action  by  the  Commission  October  10,  2002,  by  First  Report  and  Order  (FCC  02-  286).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps  and  Martin,  with  Commissioners 
 Abernathy  and  Martin  issuing  a  joint  statement  and  Commissioner  Martin  issuing  a  separate  statement. 


 MM  Docket  99-  325 
 -FCC- 
 Media  Bureau  contacts:  Peter  Doyle  202-  418-  2789;  Edward  De  La  Hunt  418-  2726;  Ann  Gallagher  418-  2716;  Norm  Miller  418-  2767 
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