"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message
...

For
that reason, while I've logged over 1,200 FM stations here, I've *never*
seen one using the RDS "alternate frequencies" function!

Surely you've heard West Virginia Public Radio stations - call letters
generally WVxx. As of a few years ago they all had the AF function active.
I'll admit I haven't checked recently. WETA-FM/WETH-FM had AF some years
ago, but they turned off their RDS a couple of years ago.

[1] It is already possible via satellite radio. There are two services
- XM and Sirius - which provide nationwide coverage via satellite direct
to cars/homes. Both recently obtained permission to install low-powered
terrestrial repeater stations to ensure reliable coverage in central
city areas where tall buildings sometimes shield listeners from the
satellites.

Both sat system have had terrestrial repeater since Day One. They have a
continual fight to continue operating them. IIRC, the recent action merely
extended temporary operating permission. AM/FM broadcasters fear the
satcasters and are playing whatever game they can to restrict their
operation.

I had a 2.5-hour tour of XM this Monday. Billions of dollars invested.
They have around 800 terrestrial repeaters. My guess is that they have
60 to 75 percent of the number of subscribers needed to break even. One
meaningless statistic: they had 25,000 subscriber activations Christmas
Day 2003.