While the Federal Communications Commission is sitting on their hands deciding on the Sirius-XM merger, terrestrial radio’s counterpart is making progress with our neighbors down south.
Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications
Commission (CoFeTel) has authorized radio stations
within 200 miles from its border with the U.S. to
begin transmitting in HD Radio technology.
Official statement (translated):
“Considering the extent of the development and
implementation of the IBOC system in the United States of America, Mexico is
required to take decisive action so that [the country’s AM and FM radio
stations] in the zone located within 320 kilometers of the northern border of
Mexico can transmit at the same technological level so that they can provide
the benefits of quality service to the radio listening public.”
CoFeTel went on to
state that stations that want to transmit with in HD Radio must
request authorization from CoFeTel and must commit to assisting the commission
in studying the technology.
Sirius and XM do not sell satellite radio service to Mexico, officially, but that hasn’t stopped Mexico’s version of the NAB from making a stink about possible reception. Apparently they don’t have the same ill feelings to HD Radio.
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