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Nighttime AM, FM Multicasting on FCC Agenda?
On March 22, the FCC could move ahead to authorize nighttime AM broadcasting, and fully authorize FM multicasting: There are many heated opinions about the quality and nature of iBiquity's in-band, on-channel AM encoding and broadcasting technology. Right now, AM stations can only broadcast during daylight hours, which severely limits HD Radio's inroads into AM stations. It's fair to say that AM stations have a vast amount to gain by going digital because of the potential quality of signal improvement, loss of tunnel fadeout, and elimination of other problems. Please note: I have not heard broadcast AM HD Radio! I was unable to tune in the one station in my market because it's far too distant from Seattle during my testing last November of five HD Radio receivers.
The FCC could approve nighttime broadcasts, and I suspect there will be loud wailing and gnashing of teeth that follows, and perhaps lawsuits. We'll see.
The other issue that might be considered is full authorization for FM multicasting. While the idea of many digital channels on an FM station is part of the marketing pitch for HD Radio, each station must apply to the FCC at the moment to multicast. Removing that obligation reduces cost and friction.