Digital audio broadcasting united states technologies and systems, terrestrial and satellite

The world of audio has gone digital. Listeners are demanding the same compact disk ('CD') quality music wherever they go - witness the widespread availability and use of battery operated CD players. Over-the-air broadcasting is on the threshold of participating in this digital revolution. European countries have invested heavily in terrstrial digital audio broadcasting ('DAB') with the development acid near-term implementation of the Eureka 147 DAB system. The United States, on the other hand, has taken the lead in the development of in-band, on-channel ('IBOC') and in-band, adjacent channel ('IBAC') technologies which will allow existing broadcasters to deliver CD - quality music with the areas they currently serve without additional frequency allocations. These systems have been comparatively tested and the results will be forthcoming shortly. Further, the U.S. has initiated licensing of satellite and complementary digital audio radio systems ('DARS') in the 2310 - 2360 MHz band which will compete with terrestrial broadcasters. The Federal Communications Commission ('FCC') initiated an inquiry into proposed service rules for DARS on June 15, 1995. This paper compares and contrasts the technical, market and institutional capabilities and service offerings of the proposed United States in - band and DARS systems, and discusses the potential for implementation of similar systems throughout the world.