Related Resources • History of Radio

Elsewhere on the Web • RAB Guide Guide to Digital Radio • iBiquity Digital

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about Digital Radio. What will this mean to you?

Well, the Federal Communications Commission has decided on a standard created by iBiquity Digital and traditional Radio stations now have the go-ahead to integrate this new technology into their broadcasts. In a nutshell, it will enhance the Radio broadcasts you receive IF you have a new-generation compatible digital radio in your car.

The new digital technology will award you with a new CD-quality FM experience and will turn old AM stations into what FM sounds like now with the added bonus of no more static, especially during thunderstorms.

Plus, within a year, there will be radios available for your car that will display content like the artist's name, the song titles in an album, and this new technology will even be able to show you what the CD covers look like! According to a report in PC Magazine, you will have the option to scroll through displays for additional content like stock quotes and news. There will be no more waiting for scheduled traffic reports during your commute to work. Instead, a traffic button will make roadway information available to you whenever you want it. You'll be able to grab a weather forecast in the same way.

How many times have you been listening to a Radio station when you heard a song you liked but didn't know the name of? No longer will you have to hope the DJ tells you. A "more-info" type of button will permit you to actually download information on the song you heard and you will even have the capability of replaying a song you like. Plus, digital Radio users will have a program guide which will allow them to plan their listening or even pre-record a radio show automatically, in advance.

Looks like regular old radio still has a few tricks up it's sleeve, that is, if it is willing to foot the bill. It will cost a typical Radio station about $75,000 to upgrade their transmitting equipment to join in on the digital fun.

- Corey Deitz

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