NAB says it will ask the FCC to approve a digital power increase of up to 10 dB for FM stations broadcasting in digital HD Radio. The NAB Radio Board has approved a resolution that was recommended by the NAB Digital Radio Committee. The goal is to up digital coverage to match the analog without causing harmful interference on analog signals. A major complaint from listeners is that HD-1 signals and HD-2 and HD-3 multicasts keep dropping out-this may help solve the problem. Upped power tests have already been conducted on FMs from major groups in LA and NYC with NAB and iBiquity Digital. Engineering consultancy Hammett & Edison reportedly confirmed field test results of digital coverage improvement and agreed that the increased interference to 1st-adjacent channel analog reception is acceptable in a vast majority of situations.
