[BC] Rich Wood, you weren't there for those discussions

[Jonathan E. Hardis]

>However, going back to at least 2001, it has been no secret that the 
>digital carrier power would have to come up to -10dB for full 
>pattern replication.

Really?  That's not what is on record at the FCC.

On December 3, 2001, NAB and CEA filed the NRSC test report on the FM 
system.  http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=6512974101 
The report concluded (page 31):

In general, these results demonstrate that the "digital" service area 
of a radio station broadcasting FM IBOC should be an improvement with 
respect to existing analog service, due primarily to FM IBOC's 
robustness in the presence of multipath fading. Farther out from the 
transmitter, as signal strength decreases, the FM IBOC receiver at 
some point blends to analog (the data suggests this typically occurs 
at signal levels of 45-50 dBuV/m) and consequently radio service on 
the edge of coverage will be preserved in its present form for 
stations broadcasting in hybrid FM IBOC mode. Where exactly blending 
occurs in these outer areas will depend on nearness to interferers, 
terrain between the receiver and the transmitter, etc.

This uncontested claim was cited as a basis for FCC decision in the 
First Report and Order 
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-286A1.pdf in 
October 2002 (at 13):

The NRSC concluded that the FM IBOC system was more robust than 
analog in most cases, and performed markedly better in overcoming 
multipath interference.  The NRSC also found that "the 'digital' 
service area of a radio station broadcasting FM IBOC should be an 
improvement with respect to existing analog service."

    - Jonathan