Power Increases Should Be Put On Hold…

Thursday, July, 9, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

I smell a rat with stations seeking power increases before a new FCC has even been seated.  I’m not sure if NPR is being greedy or has the best interests of radio in mind when they ask for an immediate power increase of up to 10dB for HD Radio signals yet asks the FCC to defer acting on any unilateral, across-the-board power increases.  IBiquity, the grand daddy of HD Radio has asked the FCC to authorize an interim power increase of 6 dB, claiming that HD’s development is being harmed by the delay and by uncertainty among stations…

In reality, the only thing holding HD Radio back is that most consumers don’t believe HD is the answer — there are too many other, better alternatives.  NPR’s plan limits power increases based on station spacing to limit any IBOC (in-band on-channel) interference to the existing 1% power level…

If the FCC deems it “vitally necessary” to authorize an interim power increase, NPR says the commission should consider its proposed approach, which would avoid added adjacent analog interference while allowing “an appreciable, immediate improvement of up to 10dB in HD coverage for some stations.”  NPR is currently conducting testing to produce a technical basis and methodology for authorizing stations to increase IBOC transmission power.  The FCC and radio will be well served by a freeze on power increases until that study and others have been completed… 

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1847] Uh-working in the coal mine: A 10-hour day is established for workers in New Hampshire…
2. 1872] Dunkin’ Donuts best friend: The doughnut cutter is patented by John F. Blondel…
3. 1953] Whirlybirding it: New York Airways  begins the 1st commuter passenger service by helicopter…
4. 1976] “Happy Trails“: Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey  dies at 73 from an undisclosed illness. Widow Jean Yawkey succeeds her husband as president and sole owner of the team…
5. 1982] Tragedy in the air: A Pan Am Boeing 727 crashes in Kenner (LA) killing all 146 on board and 8 on the ground…
6. 1992] Running mate: Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton picks Sen. Al Gore (Tennessee) to be his running mate.  Gore accepts the nomination on the 10th…
7. 1997] Banned for biting: Mike Tyson  is banned from the ring and fined $3 million for biting opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear…
8. 2000] Lucky #7: Pete Sampras  wins his 7th Wimbledon singles title, tying the record for men…
9. 2002] A tie in the rain: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig  stops play during a rain delay at the All-Star game in Milwaukee ending the 11-inning game in a 2-2 tie, a 1st in All-Star game history. Selig gets booed by the crowd…
10. 2006] Butt-out: Zinedine Zidane  in his final match, headbutts Marco Materazzi and gets sent off in the final of the FIFA World Cup…

Music Memories:

• 1956] Local debut: Dick Clark  makes his 1st appearance as host of “Bandstand” in Philadelphia. One year later the show goes network…
• 1972] Band on the run: Paul McCartney begins his 1st tour  since the Beatles breakup, with his new group Wings…
• 1995] Gratefully done (for a while, anyway): The Grateful Dead play their last concert with Jerry Garcia at Soldier Field (Chicago). Garcia will pass away in August…

Commentary:

Joey (WOR) Reynolds has received a well deserved nomination to the National Radio Hall Of Fame.  Joey and Gary Burbank, Art Laboe, Dr. Demento, Dick Orkin, Wendy Williams and Neal Boortz have been nominated in various categories.  Joey has been nominated in the ‘National — Active’ category.  If you’d like to vote for Joey, you can do so by clicking here.  Joey, you know you have my vote.  Congratulations…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Fred Savage (33), Courtney Love (45), Kelly McGillis (52), Tom Hanks (53), Jimmy Smits (54), John Tesh (57),  Richard Roundtree (67), Brian Dennehy (71), Donald Rumsfeld (77), Ed Ames (82)…

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until the MLB All-Star game and 14 days until  NFL training camps open…

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