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More Regulatory Problems for Satellite Radio
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and National Public Radio lodge complaints against XM, Sirius: NAB alleges that many of the terrestrial repeaters used by XM and Sirius are out of compliance with FCC rules. The dirty little secret of satellite digital radio--we'll get to HD Radio's secrets in the future, of course--is that hundreds upon hundreds of ground stations rebroadcast the satellite signals in urban areas where reception would otherwise not exist. "Satellite" is really "satellite in the wide open spaces with lots of terrestrial stations." NAB alleges that 21% of XM's terrestrial stations are out of compliance. XM says they're working to fix problems, which don't interfere with terrestrial radio stations.
NPR's complaint, by contrast, is about interference from low-wattage FM modulators that allow you to listen to audio via unused or less-used FM frequencies. These devices have long been used to retrofit car audio receivers that have no inputs; it's a frequent way to bridge iPods to an automotive stereo system. NPR says based on their testing that some FM modulators exceed allowable limits by 20,000% (200 times the limit). The FCC previously halted shipments of some XM and Sirius gear for just these problems.
Now neither of these situations per se benefits HD Radio, but if satellite broadcasters are forced to make changes that make their service harder to receive and harder to integrate with existing equipment, it makes it less likely people will pay the monthly service fees to receive satellite programming--which could drive more listeners to try HD Radio as the receivers start to roll out.