This afternoon the Commission released an Order authorizing FM radio stations to increase power on their hybrid digital radio operations. This power increase is a welcome boost to HD radio operations and was eagerly awaited by many FM stations broadcasting in digital.  In a nutshell, the rule change allows stations to increase from the current maximum permissible level of one percent of authorized analog effective radiated power (ERP) to a maximum of ten percent of authorized analog ERP.  In raising the power permitted for digital radio operations, the Commission acknowledged that the current digital power levels are insufficient to replicate stations' analog coverage and that indoor and portable coverage are particularly diminished.  Building on proposals advocated by National Public Radio (NPR) and iBiquity, the Commission has provided for an immediate voluntary 6 dB increase in Digital ERP (except for super-powered FM stations, as discussed below).   In addition, stations will be allowed to seek authority for increases over 6 dB up to a maximum of 10 dB using an informal application process.

Once the Order becomes effective, eligible FM stations may commence operations with FM digital operating power up to -14 dBc (that is, up to a 6 dB increase), consistent with the existing IBOC notification procedures.  Stations availing themselves of the voluntary power increase must notify the FCC electronically of the increased digital power within 10 days of commencement using the Digital Notification form via the Commission's Consolidated Database System (CDBS).   The exception to this is super-powered FM stations, which, regardless of their class, are limited to the higher of either the currently permitted -20 dBc level or 10 dB below the maximum analog power that would be authorized for the particular class of station, as adjusted for the station's antenna height above average terrain.   The Audio Division's web site contains an FM Super-Powered Maximum Digital ERP Calculator available here to assist super-powered stations with determining the maximum permissible Digital ERP.  Licensees of super-powered FM stations must file an application, in the form of an informal request, for any increase in the station's FM Digital ERP. 

For power increases over 6 dB, licensees will be required to submit an application to the FCC, in the form of an informal request, for any increase in FM Digital ERP beyond 6 dB. Licensees wishing to operate with an FM Digital ERP in excess of -14 dBc must make a calculation and determine the station's max permissible Digital ERP as detailed in paragraphs 17 through 20 in the Order, available here.  

The revised rules will become effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which will likely occur within a couple of weeks. There is a chance that the effective date of the new rules could be pushed back if the administrative review regarding the collection of data isn't completed before then, but that is not expected to be an issue here.  In any event, the Commission's Order states that stations can seek to commence operations with increased HD power of up to -14 dBc before the effective date of the new rules by filing a request for Special Temporary Authority (STA). So digital FM stations that are itching to increase their power ASAP should start working on a request for STA seeking to utilize increased power.

Finally, two additional notes, both dealing with the potential for interference. First, today's Order solidly rejected the suggestion by some commenters that Low Power FM (LPFM) stations were more likely to be affected by full power stations operating with increased FM Digital power and thus should be afforded greater protection from the blanket increase in Digital ERP.  Although the Commission in the past has seemed to be leaning towards affording LPFM stations greater protections (as we've discussed in previous posts), today's Order firmly states that "Analog LPFM... stations are secondary services, and as such, are not currently entitled to protection from existing full-service analog FM stations."  In rejecting the notion of special protections for LPFMs, the Commission stated that it viewed the protections sought by the commenters as a potentially "dramatic change in LPFM licensing rules and the relationship between LPFM and full-service stations."  In sum, "Licensees will not be required to take into account nearby LPFM stations in calculating permissible digital power levels in excess of -14 dBc."

Second, the Order adopts an explicit digital FM into analog FM interference resolution procedure for full-service FM stations.  If a full-service analog FM station is receiving verifiable listener complaints of interference within its protected contour from a digital FM station operating with a Digital ERP in excess of -20 dBc, the licensee of the affected analog FM station should contact the licensee of the digital station and the stations must work cooperatively to confirm the interference and to attempt to eliminate it using voluntary tiered FM Digital ERP reductions.  If the stations fail to reach an agreement on how to remediate the interference, then the affected analog FM station may file an interference complaint with the FCC's Media Bureau.  In order to file such a complaint, the affected analog FM station must have at least six reports of ongoing (not just transitory) objectionable interference and submit a map showing the location of the interference and details about the nature and extent of the problems.   

The Commission's Order notes that although there are approximately 1,500 radio stations operating in digital in the country today, notifications of new digital operations has been in decline for the past two years, meaning fewer stations have been commencing digital operations.  It will be interesting to see whether the increased power levels now permitted for digital radio will breath new life into HD FM radio operations. 

…2^nd February is close and a new show of radio jokey (RJ) ElJay Arem in the pipeline with the emphasis on “Indian electronic music” in dancable rhythms shaking your body.

The Indian elektronic music is sampled with classical instruments from India (e.g. Sarangi, Sitar, Santoor), usually with Tabla rhythmic and Indian (Scat) singing (from Indian classical vocal styles).
Since beginning of the 90’s the category of Indian electronics developed from the “Asian Underground” and “Dub music”. Today this genre you can find world-wide on the dance floors off the road of the global Bollywood hype.

The majority of the artists, DJs and composers out of the category “Indian elekronics” mostly is trained in Indian classical music of North India (Hindustani) or South India (Carnatic). Thus the new show has in common many things with the show IMC – India meets Classic which exists as an annual/monthly show already since March 2006. RJ ElJay has broadcasted more than 55 shows (regularly each 58 minutes) with unique guests e.g. Trilok Gurtu (Tabla Beat Science), Kala Ramnath (violin), John McLaughlin (Shakti, The Mahavishnu Orchestra) or Ramesh Shotham (Carnatic percussion).

Listen into at 09:00 pm CET ( Internet streams ) and chill out with Indian Vibes!

Reading the trade press and the blogs, one would think that the Tim Tebow ad that will reportedly air during the Super Bowl presented novel, controversial legal issues.  In fact, while we haven't seen the ad, from what we've read, there do not seem to be significant legal issues - most particularly ones that arise from an FCC perspective.  The word is that this ad is pro-life, telling his mother's story of why she decided to have her child after a medical recommendation that she not, and how that child grew up to be a famous quarterback.  Where are the FCC legal issues?  Even were this ad to explicitly address a "controversial issue of public importance", like the abortion debate, and even were stations running the ad not willing to take ads from pro-choice groups (and there is no indication that this sort of rejection of opposing viewpoints has occurred), as the debates earlier this year on the airwaves and over cable channels made clear, there is no longer any Fairness Doctrine enforced by the FCC.  Thus, there is no FCC requirement for stations having to give equal time to competing sides of any particular issue (even when the Fairness Doctrine existed, there was never an obligation for strict equal time - a broadcast station just needed to, in some manner, present both sides of an  issue).

At most, were the ad to advocate some specific Federal action, there might trigger an FCC obligation for stations that carry the ad to place a note in their public file about the ad and the amount paid to run it (see our post here), but otherwise the issue seems to be a tempest in a teapot.  Since the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine, broadcasters have been assumed to be able to exercise their own editorial discretion to decide what serves their audience and what doesn't.  In the vast majority of cases, no one bats an eye.  But combine celebrity, the Super Bowl and a reference to a political hot-button issue, and you have a media controversy - even though there is no legal one.  So, unless the ad has some content that no one seems to be contemplating, the folks at the FCC should be able to relax and simply watch the game (assuming no clothing malfunctions or similar unexpected events - which we will leave to another post on another day...)

It features a decade of Pavement's music, including three tracks that came to before the band signed to Matador Records.

Brian Jonestown Massacre are set to tour in support of their new album Who Killed Sergeant Pepper?

It's being billed as a visual album of hyper-rapid, explosive visual imagery that's very colorful and intense. Check out a preview of the movie.

The band imagines a more highly-evolved pop future on their new album.

With the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics less than 2 weeks away, and March Madness not far behind, we once again need to remind our readers that all three are trademarked terms, meaning that their use, particularly for commercial purposes, is limited.  We've wrote here last year about the use of the term "Super Bowl" in commercials, and about the use of "Olympics" two years ago (here).  Our warning then bears repeating now - the trademarked terms should not be used in commercial messages except by authorized advertisers.  These advertisers have paid big bucks to be able to say that they are an Olympic sponsor, or that they are having a Super Bowl sale.  The holders of these trademarks enforce them rigorously (so that they can get the big bucks from the official advertisers), so don't risk their use without official permission.  See our Super Bowl post from last year for details on how to refer to these events without running afoul of trademark limitations.

As we wrote last year, this does not prevent all use of these terms.  News reports about the events can still be given.  DJs can still chat about who is going to win the Super Bowl, or about the latest judging controversy in Ice Dancing at the Winter Olympics.  But don't try to commercially exploit these terms (e.g. saying that you are "Springfield's March Madness station") unless you have really paid for the rights to use the trademarked term.  Be careful, as a cute promotional idea can end up costing your station far more than you intended. 

Note - 1/29/10 - We have had many questions since we first posted this entry, including the question as to whether the words "Super Bowl", "Olympics" and March Madness" are really "copyrighted" so they can't be used in local commercials.  While we hate to be too legal about it, but the issue discussed above is one of trademark, not copyright law.  Copyright covers creative works - movies, books, songs, etc. - while trademark covers the commercial use of words or symbols to represent a product or service, which is what the use of these words are - the identification of the particular events. 

San Francisco's Noise Pop Music Festival is set to pop next month with the announcement of the film festival line up.

They’ve got tour dates a new album due out later this year.

Enter Vampire Weekend: a New York quartet who completely contradicts the aforementioned rockstar ideals of addiction, self-absorption, and lunacy.

Dan Snaith might have created the Magnum Opus for this phase of Caribou with a new album titled Swim. Find out more and check out a track from the new album.

He wanted to loosen up the sound to be more freewheeling, while making it a thicker, more immersive soundscape. He also worked with Andrew Bird. Find out more and check out a track from the new album.

After last week's big announcement of the 2010 Coachella line up, tickets have gone on sale.

The Mogwai Burning Live DVD and album release is finally going to see the light of day this Spring. Check out a preview of the movie and download a MP3 from the live album.