Drafts of All-Digital AM and Radio Programming Duplication NPRMs Released

of the item set for the upcoming Nov. 19 commissioners' meeting. The item tentatively concludes that the FCC should allow such transitions, and that all-digital operation would improve quality and potentially the coverage of AM broadcasts. It would also allow for the transmission of auxiliary data such as song and title information, the draft NPRM said. “The AM service has struggled for decades with a steady decline in listenership caused by interference and reception issues and the availability of higher fidelity alternatives,” the draft NPRM said. The draft item also seeks comment on possible co-channel interference that could arise from all-digital service, and on whether operation should be allowed at night. The FCC previously has sought comment on relaxing nighttime restrictions on some AM stations but hasn’t pulled the trigger on actual rule changes; the draft item seeks comment on whether all-digital AM stations involve the same nighttime interference issues as analog ones (see 1901290055). The other broadcast item is an NPRM seeking comment on relaxing rules preventing same-market, commonly owned radio stations from airing the same programming. The draft seeks comment on whether the rules promote spectrum efficiency, and whether it should be relaxed to be less stringent or apply only to FM stations. “The current version of this rule was adopted a generation ago, in 1992, and there have since been considerable changes in the radio broadcast industry,” the draft NPRM said.