Archive for Wednesday, August, 27, 2008

To HD Or Not To HD - That Is The Question…

Wednesday, August, 27, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

Inquiring FCC minds want to know - would you like some HD with your SDARS?  HD is iBiquity’s trademark  for its digital AM and FM radio technology.  Previously HD was referred to as Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB).  Since 1990 the FCC has been considering the feasibility of DAB or HD.  Slow and steady wins the race at the FCC.  SDARS stands for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service or what we commonfolk call Satellite Radio.  The FCC recently posted a 21-point notice of Inquiry asking the world whether or not they think HD Radio should be included as part of the newly merged Sirius agreement.  Simply put, the FCC is asking you whether they should include an HD Radio capability demand in the Sirius agreement and should all satellite hardware include HD…

The FCC will look at the feedback by the end of October and you could have an HD capability with your satellite hardware or at least the promise of one, under your Christmas tree.  But let’s remember this is the F (slow and steady wins the race) CC - so maybe not.  In any case, the FCC is making you, John Q. Public the decision maker…

You can see the entire FCC inquiry on their website.  If you have an opinion, now’s the time to speak up…  

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1859] Oil, black gold, Pennsylvania tea?: The 1st oil well is drilled successfully in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, Pennsylvania…
  2. 1921] Cheeseheads are born: The owner of the Acme Packing Co. buys a football team for the town of Green Bay (WI). J.E. Clair pays tribute to those who work at his plant by naming the team - The Green Bay Packers. To this day, the only community owned team in any sport…
  3. 1961] Are you talking to me?: Francis the Talking Mule  is mystery guest on “What’s My Line”…
  4. 1966] The King meets the Beatles: Elvis Presley invites the Beatles  over to his Bel Aire house to jam. It’s the 1st and last meeting of the pop icons.  On the same date one year later (1967) Beatles manager Brian Epstein  dies from an overdose of sleeping pills…
  5. 1976] Not that there’s anything wrong with that: Sex-change tennis player Renee Richards  is denied admission to the U.S. Open in Forest Hills. They couldn’t figure out whether Renee would be in the men’s or women’s competition…
  6. 1982] Legal larceny: 23-year old Rickey Henderson steals his 119th base, breaking Lou Brock’s season record. Rickey still holds the career record of 1,406 SB’s…
  7. 1984] Teacher in Space: President Ronald Reagan announces his “Teacher in Space” project, 11,000 teachers apply and Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire is selected but will tragically lose her life aboard Challenger. Barbara Morgan, a former teacher and part of the program returned safely from her mission one year ago…
  8. 1990] “Happy Trails”: 35-year old Texas rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan (who took his brother Jimmie’s seat) and 3 members of Eric Clapton’s crew are killed in a helicopter crash in Wisconsin in bad flying weather…
  9. 1992] Sold to the highest bidder: John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to “A Day In The Life”  are sold for $87,000 at auction…
  10. 2007] Vick goes to the dogs:  Former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick  pleads guilty to federal dog fighting charges and then issues a public apology.  In December, 2007 Vick is given a jail term of 23 months…

Music Memories:

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Joe D’Ambrosio (52), Paul Reubens a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman (56), Tuesday Weld (65), Daryl Dragon a.k.a. The Captain (66) and Tommy Sands (71)…

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Labor Day, 8 days until the NFL Opener (Washington @ NYG) and 32 days until the end of the MLB regular season…

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