[BC] SCA ON TRANSLATORS

[Thomas G. Osenkowsky]

FM Extra was an enhancement of the SCA service. It had many features and I
was very impressed by the demonstrations Lyle had at NAB shows. SCA
transmissions are not intended for reception by the general public as is the
main channel content. That said entities such as reading services, foreign
language, specialized material (medical, etc.), background music and other
such content may be legally received by those intended to receive such
broadcasts. Typically the sender provides receivers to the intended parties.
FM Extra allowed remote authorization of receivers for paid services much
like cable TV.

RDS is intended for use by the general public. It is not a private
transmission. I suppose if one wished they could claim the stereo pilot is
not part of the audible main channel and as such is an "SCA".

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE

>The FCC ruled that SCA is still a private broadcast service and essentially
>banned public reception of FM Extra.