Draft Rulemaking to Authorize All-Digital AM Service Seen as Uncontroversial

An FCC Media Bureau draft rulemaking notice on authorizing a voluntary HD Radio all-digital AM service is considered uncontroversial for Friday’s FCC meeting agenda, broadcast attorneys told us. Few changes to the draft are expected, said an FCC official. It would seek comment on allowing AM stations to voluntarily switch to all-digital service, and on the standards and notification processes for such a switch. The initiative “very much has the potential of saving AM,” said Hubbard Senior Engineer Dave Kolesar. He oversees the only currently operating all-digital AM station in the U.S., Hubbard’s WWFD Frederick, Maryland. The FCC would seek comment “on the overall state of readiness of AM listeners to transition” to all-digital AM, says the draft. Existing HD Radio receivers will support all-digital AM functionality, it says, citing HD Radio owner Xperi as the source. Kolesar estimates HD Radio car receiver penetration at 25 percent in WWFD’s coverage area. The rulemaking also would seek comment on “the impact that stations converting to all-digital operations could have on listeners with analog-only receivers,” it says. “In short, we seek comment on whether preserving the long-term economic viability of an AM station and the public benefit of improved service to some listeners would justify the present-day loss of service to other listeners.”