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A Proliferation of Channels

Each broadcaster should also have the option of linking any or all of these sub-channels together so the maximum bit rate would range from 153 kbps to 360 kbps with all sub-channels linked.

I have suggestions for the proposed 76 to 87.7 MHz band (“Could EXB Band Be Your New Home,” Sept. 10).

I would use Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), and not DRM+, in the new band. I would break each channel into five 20 kHz wide sub-channels that would each have a maximum of 72.0 kbps, 64-QAM and a minimum of 30.6 kbps, 16-QAM, so the broadcaster would have the option of having up to five different programs at once.

Each broadcaster should also have the option of linking any or all of these sub-channels together so the maximum bit rate would range from 153 kbps to 360 kbps with all sub-channels linked.

Let me show you what this would look like for an AM station that moves to the new band. I use AM 1230 in Waco, Texas, for a hypothetical example. The station would move to, let’s say, 83.9 MHz and would in the first hypothetical example use five channels separately.

  1. 83.85–83.87 Tech news only (in my dreams)
  2. 83.87–83.89 News only
  3. 83.89–83.91 Programming from AM 1230 (talk shows)
  4. 83.91–83.93 Left-wing talk (for example)
  5. 83.93–83.95 Big band & standards music (another dream)

In my second hypothetical example, two stereo programs and one mono program are broadcast:

  1. 83.85–83.87 Right-channel program A (guitar music)
  2. 83.87–83.89 Left-channel program B (piano music)
  3. 83.89–83.91 Programming from AM 1230 (talk shows)
  4. 83.91–83.93 Right-channel program B (piano music)
  5. 83.93–83.95 Left-channel program A (guitar music)

In my final example the broadcaster chooses to link all sub-channels together for maximum bit rate for best audio quality and therefore no list of sub-channels is needed.

The system needs to have the details worked out.

There should be an option for iBiquity’s digital system as an option only, never a requirement because I believe that no broadcaster who has received an FCC license to broadcast should have to pay iBiquity thousands of dollars before being able to broadcast.

James Johnson
Arlington, Texas

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