[BC] What is left for the industry to do?

[Barry Mishkind]

At 06:05 AM 10/18/2005, Mike McCarthy wrote
>Ibiquity's coding standard and the rigid limits they have on the 
>dynamic flexibility of the system make it very difficult to upgrade 
>in the field.  As others have pointed out, once the receivers are 
>out the door, it's going to be extremely difficult to un-ring that 
>bell short of making the RX's OTAR upgradeable. The FCC only last 
>year made that feature legal here in the USA. The multi-casting 
>escapade is a prime example of this short sighted vision Ibiquity 
>has with it's keeping the coding system private plan.

         OK ... I'm going to try to prime the pump
         with something positive.

         It is my observation that much of the negativity
         expressed on IBOC derives from a feeling
         of frustration - we got stuck with this
         banana peel, are told there is nothing to do
         but implement it.

         Privately, I've asked what broadcasters can do.
         Most of the responses center on the NRSC.
         All of you (except those of us who might tell
         others what happens) are permitted to
         attend and participate in NRSC.

         There is a list of meetings and apparently you
         can even listen in by phone.

         However, there seems little discussion of NRSC,
         other than to criticize.  Can someone not
         help us to walk through the process of what
         NRSC can do at this point, and how we
         can affect it?

         What about other options?  Is there anyone
         out there thinking past the immediate
         time frame, and how to improve the system
         as we move down the road?

         Is the lack of direction from the FCC the
         problem, is everyone waiting until
         there are "standards?"  Is that why
         ibiquity is exploiting?

         Can we discuss this from the standpoint
         of what can be done, instead of the
         fact that many feel left out up to this point?