On Feb 4, 4:33�pm, D Peter Maus wrote:
IBOCcrock wrote:
Doubtful, that there would ever be a mandate:

� �Don't count it out. FCC also said there would no digital only mandate
for DTV, too. Have you heard about Feb 17th, 2009?

� �The ONE thing we've been able to count on from FCC for some years,
now, is that they will do whatever it takes to maximize the confusion,
inconvenience, and abandonment of the broadcast consuming public to the
benefit of special interests.

� �Sanity is no longer in FCC DNA and hasn't been since before they cut
the balls off the AM Stereo momentum.

� �"To serve in the public interest as a public trustee," isn't even
paid lip service anymore. It's about the broadcaster. Not the public
interest.

� �It has been the goal of iBiquity and broadcasters in general to make
this move to all digital service. There have been decades of
technological development. Billions in investment. If HD Radio does not
catch on with the listening public, there will be enormous pressures on
both the Congress and FCC to move forward with an all digital mandate.

� �Don't think it can't happen. Don't believe their denials. They've
denied before. And done it anyway. This is a political agency, beholden
to a Congress in turn beholden to very high dollar special interests. An
FCC promise is meaningless.

15. We will not establish a deadline for radio stations to convert to
digital broadcasting. Stations may decide if, and when, they will
provide digital service to the public. Several reasons support this
decision. First, unlike television licensees, radio stations are
under
no statutory mandate to convert to a digital format. Second, a hard
deadline is unnecessary given that DAB uses an in-band technology
that
does not require the allocation of additional spectrum. Thus, the
spectrum reclamation needs that exist for DTV do not exist here.
Moreover, there is no evidence in the record that marketplace forces
cannot propel the DAB conversion forward, and effective markets tend
to provide better solutions than regulatory schemes.

You really have a hard time comprehending - IBOC is in-band and
requires no additional spectrum to be allocated. A mandate would do no
good - no one will buy HD radios.