On 1/16/2012 3:33 AM, RHF wrote:

The Only 'concern' was/is the continued
viability and profitability of the present
FM Radio Station [Business] Licensees.
-hence- IBOC 'In-Band'& 'On-Channel'
Same Station and Same Business Entity
-new-and-improved-but-yet-un-changed-)-

That's ignoring a lot. Yes, of course the present licensees did not want
to create a lot more supply that they would have felt compelled to bid
for or face new competition but that was not the only reason for the
IBOC solution.

Some of the other reasons IBOC was chosen over other digital options:

1. No available spectrum for a new band. Reallocating spectrum is very
difficult. A digital upgrade without changing frequencies was highly
desirable.

2. No transition plan of existing spectrum from analog to digital with
some other options.

3. Less consumer confusion when the frequencies don't change.

4. At the time is was selected, the only competition was DAB which was
very inefficient. DAB+ offers audio quality almost as good as HD, but a)
it wasn't available when HD was selected, and b) it wasn't IBOC.

While most people would not weep if Clear Channel or Cumulus faced new
competition from another radio band, a lot of radio stations are still
independently owned and the value of their licenses would be
significantly reduced by the creation of more stations.