[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10610]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 4, 1994]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73

[ET Docket No. 92-298, FCC 94-88]

 

Broadcast Services; AM Radio Stereophonic Transmitting Equipment 
Standard

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; supplemental order.

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SUMMARY: By this Supplemental Order, the Commission affirms its 
decision to adopt the Motorola C-Quam system as the standard for the 
stereophonic AM broadcast radio service. On November 23, 1993, the 
Commission released a Report and Order implementing the C-Quam AM 
stereo standard. Subsequent to the release on the Report and Order, it 
has come to the attention of the Commission that a number of comments 
had been inadvertently overlooked. After review of these additional 
comments, the Commission finds no new evidence or information that 
warrants a change in its decision in this matter.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 20, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Means, Office of Engineering 
and Technology, Authorization and Evaluation Division, (301) 725-1585, 
extension 206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order, 
FCC 94-88, adopted April 12, 1994, and released April 28, 1994. The 
full text of this decision is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Dockets Branch (room 230), 1919 
M Street, NW., Washington, DC. Copies may also be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, International Transcription 
Services, at (202) 857-3800 or 2100 M Street NW., suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Summary of the Order

    1. In response to the Telecommunications Authorization Act of 1992 
(Authorization Act), the Commission adopted a Report and Order in this 
proceeding, 58 FR 66300, December 20, 1993, selecting the C-Quam system 
as the single AM stereo transmission standard.\1\ Subsequent to the 
release of the Report and Order, it was found that twenty comments had 
inadvertently not been considered. Most of these comments were 
improperly or untimely filed. Nevertheless, because other late and 
improperly filed comments were considered in the Report and Order, we 
have elected to consider all of these comments at this time.
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    \1\See Telecommunications Act of 1992, Public Law No. 102-538. 
See also Report and Order, FCC 93-485 (released November 23, 1993).
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    2. All of the previously unconsidered comments oppose the 
Commission's proposed selection of C-Quam as the AM stereo standard. 
Most parties generally allege some form of technical superiority of the 
Kahn system, or conversely, some technical inferiority of the C-Quam 
system. Specifically, these parties claim the C-Quam system exhibits 
technical flaws, including ``platform motion,'' loss of coverage, and 
increased adjacent channel interference.\2\ In addition, some 
commenting parties recommend that additional testing or evaluation be 
undertaken. Other parties question the compatibility of C-Quan with 
future AM band digital audio transmission systems, argue that adopting 
a system other than Kahn's as the standard will force them to re-
engineer antenna array, or contend that Motorola unfairly manipulated 
the marketplace to create its competitive lead.
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    \2\See, for example, comments of Hughes H. Brewer, Broadcast 
Devices, Inc. (BDI), E. P. De La Hunt, Joseph A. Dentici, David 
Smith Forsman, Interstate Broadcasting Company (Interstate), Richard 
W. Jolls, Robert M. Kanner, Patrick M. O'Gara, and Ridgefield 
Broadcasting Corporation (Ridgefield).
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Discussion

    3. The relative technical performance of the Kahn and C-Quam 
systems was addressed in the Report and Order, including specifically 
the issues of platform motion, coverage area and adjacent channel 
performance. With regard to platform motion, we concluded that recent 
improvements in receiver design mitigate such effects. Modern C-Quam 
receivers compensate for platform motion by gradually reducing stereo 
channel separation as signal-to-noise ratios deteriorate, creating a 
smooth transition to monaural operation when signals are weak. Further, 
as previously noted, such weak signal effects as platform motion 
generally occur beyond a station's protected coverage area. Claims of 
loss of coverage area and increased adjacent channel interference with 
C-Quam appear to be based on allegations that the C-Quam signal must be 
modulated at lower levels to avoid excessive bandwidth. As stated in 
the Report and Order, we find no evidence that currently authorized C-
Quam equipment violates the Commission's bandwidth requirements when 
operated properly. The additional commenting parties present no new 
analysis or measurements to support their claims. We further note that 
the record contains no complaints of lost coverage from the hundreds of 
broadcasters currently using the C-Quam system.
    4. With regard to suggestions that further testing and evaluation 
should be performed, in the Report and Order we noted that the Motorola 
and Kahn systems have been tested and comparatively evaluated over the 
years, and both systems were found to have technical advantages. As 
stated, we have no reason to expect that further testing would reveal 
any new information. Moreover, any further testing would lead to 
additional delays and would be inconsistent with the statutory time 
restrictions on this proceeding.
    5. The issue of compatibility with future AM band digital audio 
broadcast systems was also discussed in the Report and Order. We noted 
that there is no reason to believe that either the C-Quam system or the 
Kahn system would have any advantage in compatibility with future 
digital systems. We further observed that, as we have no specific 
information on the likely design of such systems, we would not 
presuppose to consider fairly issues relating to their compatibility 
with AM stereo technologies.
    6. With regard to comments that protest the potential costs 
associated with re-engineering the antenna arrays to accommodate C-Quam 
transmission, we observe that conversion of any station to any AM 
stereo system, either initially or from one system to another, will 
certainly involve re-engineering costs. Commenting parties have not 
provided any evidence from which to conclude that the conversion cost 
to the relatively few stations using the Kahn system outweigh the 
benefits to the public of requiring use of the C-Quam system.
    7. We stated in the Report and Order that we were not persuaded 
that Motorola unfairly manipulated the market to deny any segment of 
the industry or the public a free choice. No new information in the 
additional comments convinces us otherwise. While vehicular receivers 
for any system other than C-Quam may indeed be generally unavailable, 
this is a result of market choices by vehicle and receiver 
manufacturers in anticipating the preference of their customers. We 
disagree that existing market penetration is inadequate to determine 
whether a de facto standard exists. As stated in the Report and Order, 
we find that there was indeed sufficient convergence in the market 
place toward C-Quam during the past twelve years of unrestricted 
competition between the systems to conclude that the public interest 
would be best served by adopting C-Quam as the standard.
    8. With regard to the comments that the Commission should mandate 
multiple system receivers, allow systems other than the standard to be 
operated on a non-interference basis, or not adopt a standard, we find 
these positions to be inconsistent with the Congressional mandate in 
this matter. Specifically, the Authorization Act requires that we 
select a single standard for AM stereo.
    9. In the Report and Order, we determined that stations employing 
power-side operation are not subject to the provisions of the 
stereophonic transmission standard and use of the Kahn system for such 
operation could continue. Thus, we believe that the decision made in 
the Report and Order is responsive to those parties wishing to use the 
Kahn system for power-side operation.
    10. We remain convinced that the Motorola C-Quam system is the 
appropriate choice for the AM stereo standard. We find no arguments in 
any of the previously unconsidered comments that persuade us to modify 
any of the decisions previously adopted in the Report and Order.

Ordering Clause

    11. Accordingly, it is ordered that this Supplemental Order is 
adopted.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

    Radio broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-10610 Filed 5-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M