Communication Technology Update, 10/e, 10th Edition

9

RADIO BROADCASTING

Gregory Pitts, Ph.D.*

We…want to enable terrestrial radio broadcasters to better compete with satellite radio services now in operation. As such, we seek comment on what changes in our rules would likely encourage radio stations to convert to a hybrid or an all-digital format (FCC, 2004a, p. 8).

The industry once believed its future would be secure simply by switching to digital technology, but the popularity of satellite radio, MP3 players, and Internet radio has changed the game plan (Taub, 2006).

Radio technology spent its first 80 years in sedate existence. Its most exotic innovation was the arrival of FM stereo broadcasting in 1961. Today, digital over-the-air radio broadcasting (called HD Radio and HD2), satellite-delivered ...