The CRTC has just released its new policy with regard to digital radio in Canada:
<http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2006/pb2006-160.htm> Note that digital radio in Canada at present uses part of the L-band, 1452 to 1492 MHz. It has been adopted in the largest markets such as Toronto and Montreal but as this report notes its rollout has stalled. The report considers the introduction of IBOC on the AM and FM bands in Canada. The reasoned response of the CBC is contained in paragraphs 21 to 23 of this report: 21. Before permitting the use of IBOC technology in Canada, the CBC suggested that actions and measures should be taken to ensure that IBOC will not create harmful interference to existing Canadian services. 22. The CBC noted that the AM IBOC system requires the reduction of the audio bandwidth by half (4.5 kHz) of the bandwidth of all existing AM stations, not just the ones adopting the system. This would create a serious degradation in sound quality for existing AM stations. Even with these measures, the CBC submitted that the fact that the IBOC data resides precisely on the carrier frequencies of first adjacent stations to which skywave protection is not afforded means that IBOC transmission at night is not practical. 23. Likewise, on the FM side, the CBC argued that implementation of the FM IBOC system would require additional first and second adjacent channel coordination. Furthermore, the insertion of the IBOC digital component within the FM band would make it difficult to coordinate the CBC’s network operations. I will not repeat here the response of iBiquity (paragraphs 28 and 29) or the views of the CRTC (paragraphs 51 to 57 of the Report). 73, Deane McIntyre VE6BPO _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com