{"id":41711,"date":"2020-01-23T08:11:27","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T12:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=41711"},"modified":"2020-01-23T08:11:27","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T12:11:27","slug":"am-revitalization-drm-consortium-asks-fcc-to-adopt-drm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/am-revitalization-drm-consortium-asks-fcc-to-adopt-drm\/","title":{"rendered":"AM Revitalization: DRM Consortium asks FCC to adopt DRM"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/GOSPELL-DRM-Portable-Radio.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-21236\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/GOSPELL-DRM-Portable-Radio.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/GOSPELL-DRM-Portable-Radio.jpg 800w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/GOSPELL-DRM-Portable-Radio-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/GOSPELL-DRM-Portable-Radio-768x449.jpg 768w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/GOSPELL-DRM-Portable-Radio-624x365.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Many thanks to <em>SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Alan, who shares <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radioworld.com\/tech-and-gear\/allow-drm-for-digitizing-the-am-band\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">this editorial from Radio World<\/a> that features edited comments filed with the FCC by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drm.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DRM Consortium<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The following unedited letter was taken directly from the FCC comments database:<\/p>\n<p>(Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/ecfsapi.fcc.gov\/file\/1204281126391\/FCCConsultation-19-123-20191204.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FCC Filing [PDF])<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-41712\" src=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"593\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg 593w, https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing-300x196.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">In your document (FCC19-123) you rightly highlight the great advantage of AM broadcasts, primarily the ability to cover large areas and number of listeners, while the band itself is losing popularity because of a variety of issues to do with propagation, interference, environmental changes. At the same time, digital audio broadcasting is no longer the new platform it was in 2002. At that time FCC mandated a proprietary system (IBOC, \u201cHD radio\u201d) as the only system to be used in the USA with the possibility of applying DRM for HF.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Since then DRM (the ITU recommended, only digital audio broadcasting for all bands, open standard, has been tested and used all over the world on all bands, short wave, medium wave and FM).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">So while you are recommending now pure digital HD, based on the NAB tests and WWFD not completely convincing trial, we would urge the FCC to consider opening the straightjacket of 2002 and allow DRM to be used as a sure, tested, efficient way of digitizing the AM band.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">There are several reasons for this:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">DRM digital radio delivers in the AM bands significant benefits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Audio quality that is on par or better than FM. DRM of all recognized digital<br \/>\nstandards is the only one using the ultra-efficient and compressed xHE-AAC audio<br \/>\ncodec that delivers at even very low bit-rates exceptional audio quality for speech<br \/>\nbut music, as well. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drm.org\/listen-compare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.drm.org\/listen-compare\/<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Record Data: DRM has been tested in medium wave all over the world in both<br \/>\nsimulcast and pure digital. A list of the main tests (some of which have become ITU<br \/>\nadopted documents) are included in Annex 4 of the DRM Handbook:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DRM-Handbook.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.drm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/DRM-Handbook.pdf<\/a><br \/>\nAt the moment, 35 MW transmitters are on air in simulcast or pure DRM in India.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/prasarbharati.gov.in\/R&amp;D\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/prasarbharati.gov.in\/R&amp;D\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Auxiliary Data. DRM is the newest, most complete, open standard for digitizing radio in<br \/>\nall frequency bands, and is recommended by ITU. DRM has been devised as a direct<br \/>\nheir to analog AM (SW, MW). It uses 9\/10, 18\/20 kHz bandwidth and has a useful content<br \/>\nbit rate of up to 72kbps. It carries up to 3 programs on one frequency and one data channel, while data can be carried on each of the audio channels as well. One of the great advantages of DRM is that alongside excellent audio, the receiver screens will display visual information of any kind required (albums\u2019 titles, singers\u2019 photos, maps, visuals of any sort, data of any kind). The Journaline application allows for extra information from the internet or the RSS feeds of the broadcaster to be captured and displayed. Currently broadcasters like the BBC, All India Radio, KTWR in Guam are using this extra facility that clearly differentiates digital form analog as a superior option.<\/li>\n<li>Power\/energy efficiency. Using SW or MW in DRM can reduce the power used up<br \/>\nto 80%). As per calculations made by Ampegon, a medium wave transmitter can<br \/>\ncover an area of 235000 sq km with a 100kW transmitter. The DRM EPR of such a<br \/>\ntransmitter is about 50kW and the coverage area is the same, while instead of one<br \/>\nanalog programme up to three digital channels and one data channel can be<br \/>\nbroadcast, all in excellent audio quality.<\/li>\n<li>Spectrum efficiency (more programmes can be broadcast on one single frequency<br \/>\nused for one programme in analog) as explained above.<\/li>\n<li>DRM, unlike analog, offers enhanced and stable audio quality that is FM-like<br \/>\n(mono or stereo). DRM also offers multiservice data enabled by applications like<br \/>\nJournaline (the enhanced text services, more information captured as RSS feeds or<br \/>\nform other internet source), slideshows, multilingual text (practically being able to<br \/>\nshow any characters of any language not just Latin script), and the Emergency<br \/>\nWarning Functionality (EWF) in case of disasters.<\/li>\n<li>Interference. This has not been noted as the DRM signal will always be lower than<br \/>\nthe analog one. AIR has not noted any interference in its operation of DRM<br \/>\ntransmitters. The mask values required for an optimal functioning of DRM<br \/>\ntransmitters is clearly stipulated in the ITU documents and as long as the network<br \/>\nplanning is correct, and the mask is respected there should not be any issue of<br \/>\ninterference in digital-analog or digital-digital DRM transmissions.<\/li>\n<li>Receivers. Currently there are several receiver models and SDR options for the<br \/>\nreception of DRM in AM. India has almost 2 million new cars fitted with DRM<br \/>\nreceivers, at no cost to the buyers, that are capable of and are receiving DRM<br \/>\nmediumwave signals. The audio quality is excellent and a sure benefit to the users.<\/li>\n<li>DRM is in direct succession to the analog AM (and FM) services, not owned or<br \/>\ncontrolled by any single company and immediately available with full know-how and<br \/>\ntechnology access by the transmitter and receiver industry.<\/li>\n<li>As HD in mediumwave is a bit of a necessary step but still a leap in the dark, it<br \/>\nwould make sense from the practical aspects and even receiver solution availability<br \/>\nto allow DRM as the best, clearly proven solution of digitizing the AM band (in<br \/>\npreference or alongside HD) in the US.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">In short, the salient advantages of DRM are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li>The audio quality offered by DRM is equally excellent on all the transmission bands:<br \/>\nMW, SW or VHF<\/li>\n<li>Robust signal unaffected by noise, fading or other forms and interference in all bands<\/li>\n<li>Clear and powerful sound quality with facility for stereo and 5.1 surround<\/li>\n<li>More audio content and choice: Up to two and even three audio programmes and one<br \/>\ndata channel on one frequency<\/li>\n<li>Extra multimedia content: Digital radio listeners can get multimedia content<br \/>\nincluding audio, text, images and in future even small-scale video, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Text messages in multiple languages<\/li>\n<li>Journaline \u2013 advanced text-based information service supporting all classes of<br \/>\nreceivers, providing anytime-news for quick look-up on the receiver\u2019s screen;<br \/>\ninteractivity and geo-awareness allowing targeted advertising<\/li>\n<li>Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), showing what\u2019s up now and next; search<br \/>\nfor programmes and schedule recordings<\/li>\n<li>Slideshow Programme accompanying images and animation<\/li>\n<li>Traffic information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Automatically switch for disaster &amp; emergency warnings in case of impending<br \/>\ndisasters in large areas, automatically presenting the audio message, while providing<br \/>\ndetailed information on the screen in all relevant languages simultaneously. Great<br \/>\npotential to become the surest and widest means of alerting the population to<br \/>\nemergencies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Therefore, we urge FCC to take a wide view and consider all options including DRM, if AM is worth futureproofing in the USA.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;\">[<a href=\"https:\/\/ecfsapi.fcc.gov\/file\/1204281126391\/FCCConsultation-19-123-20191204.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This filing<\/a> also included a number of &#8220;Useful Press Links]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan, who shares this editorial from Radio World that features edited comments filed with the FCC by the DRM Consortium. The following unedited letter was taken directly from the FCC comments database: (Source: FCC Filing [PDF]) In your document (FCC19-123) you rightly highlight the great advantage of AM broadcasts, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[54,3],"tags":[4787,980,4083,72,1241],"class_list":["post-41711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drm","category-news","tag-am-revitalization","tag-digital-radio-mondiale","tag-drm","tag-drm-consortium","tag-fcc"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aQL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":174,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/new-drm-receiver-di-wave-100\/","url_meta":{"origin":41711,"position":0},"title":"New DRM Receiver &#8211; Di-Wave 100 \/ UniWave Di-Wave","author":"Thomas","date":"March 28, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Note: Updated 13 December 2009 The Di-Wave 100, a new DRM digital radio receiver was unveiled at the annual general assembly of the DRM Consortium in Erlangen, Germany. This is big news indeed for DRM enthusiasts as there are so few versatile stand-alone DRM receivers in production. This announcement also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Uniwave SA, CEO, Patrick Leclerc, with the receiver holding the Di-Wave 100. Photo courtesy of DRM consortium.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2009\/03\/drmorg-287x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":26582,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/fcc-a-detailed-application-for-a-new-10kw-drm-transmitter\/","url_meta":{"origin":41711,"position":1},"title":"FCC: A detailed application for a new 10KW DRM transmitter","author":"Thomas","date":"June 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: Thomas, did you see this? It's a detailed application to the FCC for the construction of a 10KW shortwave transmitter for DRM on 9.65 MHz and 15.45 MHz. Click here to download the application (PDF). Thanks, Ed! I know nothing about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital Modes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DRM-Transmitter-Alpine-Radar-Tower.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DRM-Transmitter-Alpine-Radar-Tower.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/DRM-Transmitter-Alpine-Radar-Tower.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51358,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/drm-mystery-benn-shares-the-latest-on-turms-tech-station-wipe\/","url_meta":{"origin":41711,"position":2},"title":"DRM Mystery: Benn shares the latest on Turms Tech Station WIPE","author":"Thomas","date":"December 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The following article by Benn Kobb was posted on Dec. 25 to Glenn Hauser's World of Radio list on groups.io. I repost it here with Benn's permission: Subject: As the World 'Turms' It would seem like 2021 would end with no FCC action on the three mysterious entities requesting licenses\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital Modes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DRM-Waterfall-Spectrum.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4442,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/drm-consortium-publishes-the-drm-introduction-implementation-guide\/","url_meta":{"origin":41711,"position":3},"title":"DRM Consortium publishes the DRM Introduction &#038; Implementation Guide","author":"Thomas","date":"September 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The DRM Consortium has made their DRM Introduction & Implementation Guide\u00a0available for download on their site. The\u00a0\u00a0guide is intended for management of broadcasting organizations, \"in areas of policy making as well as in\u00a0program making and technical planning.\" I imagine a few SWLing Post readers will enjoy it too. Thanks to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital Modes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/drmlogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":44244,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/high-frequency-parties-asks-fcc-to-question-proposed-chicago-drm-broadcasters-true-mission\/","url_meta":{"origin":41711,"position":4},"title":"High-Frequency Parties asks FCC to question proposed Chicago DRM broadcaster&#8217;s true mission","author":"Thomas","date":"July 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bennett Kobb, who shares an FCC Informal Objection he drafted and filed together with Kim Elliott and Christopher Rumbaugh. Click here to download the Informal Objection. (PDF) Radio World published a great summary of the filing today: There\u2019s a plan in the works to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Broadcasters&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Informal-Objection-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Informal-Objection-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Informal-Objection-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Informal-Objection-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46226,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/fccs-am-digital-order-did-not-include-drm\/","url_meta":{"origin":41711,"position":5},"title":"FCC&#8217;s AM digital order did not include DRM","author":"Thomas","date":"October 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"This news item expands on our previous post. (Source: Radio World) No Luck for DRM in the AM Digital Order Digital Radio Mondiale was hoping that the Federal Communications Commission would consider allowing its technology as an all-digital option for AM stations in the United States, along with HD Radio.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital Modes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kiwi-SDR-DRM-e1577360773433.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kiwi-SDR-DRM-e1577360773433.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kiwi-SDR-DRM-e1577360773433.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Kiwi-SDR-DRM-e1577360773433.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41711\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}