Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems and Their Impact on the Terrestrial Radio Broadcast Service

The Media Bureau adopts changes in the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) rules to permit FM radio stations to voluntarily increase FM hybrid digital effective radiated power (ERP), and implements interference mitigation and remediation procedures to resolve promptly allegations of digital interference to authorized full-service FM analog stations resulting from an FM digital ERP increase undertaken pursuant to the procedures adopted. The increase in FM hybrid digital ERP will allow an FM station's digital coverage area to more closely replicate its licensed analog coverage area, and the interference mitigation and remediation procedures will make certain that permissible increases in FM digital ERP do not adversely affect existing FM analog operations. These rule changes balance the immediate need for improved FM digital coverage with the continued need to limit interference from digital FM facilities to FM analog stations.