[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]
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