Gov’t to allow more FM radio stations

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is set to open the country’s FM radio industry to more players in a bid to fully optimize the use of limited radio frequencies and draw in investments.

A draft memorandum circular has already been prepared to amend the existing rule on FM technical standards.

The FM radio sector is presently governed by a regulation that sets a frequency separation of 800 kilohertz between stations. The regulation was issued based on guidelines submitted by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) to prevent transmission interference between stations.

Right now, there are at least 26 FM stations separated by 800 khz. For instance, the station 88.3 is followed by 89.1, then by 89.9, 90.7, 91.5, 92.3, 93.1, to name a few.

The commission’s plan is to reduce the frequency separation to 400 khz, which means that the current number of FM stations can easily double.

The NTC noted that new technology now allows a closer frequency separation without interference. "Due to the advances in technology, digital or hybrid sound broadcasting systems of high quality have been made available permitting greater spectrum efficiency than conventional FM sound broadcasting," the NTC said.

The NTC is amenable to allowing a frequency separation of 400 khz on the FM spectrum for broadcasting stations using digital or hybrid technology.

"FM broadcast stations using digital and/or hybrid technology shall be allowed to operate in the same city or nearby cities with a frequency separation of not less than 400 khz," the NTC said in the draft circular.

Should the new standard be approved and adopted, the NTC may start allocating FM frequencies again. This is expected to boost investments in the radio industry as more stations are expected to open.

FM stations in the country currently transmit on analog technology. Digital or hybrid technology allows a simultaneous transmission with analog wherein the digital signal is

placed within the analog signal. This means stations transmitting through digital technology can still use the existing broadcast infrastructure that is based on analog technology.

The NTC’s move comes on the heels of the adoption of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the use of hybrid technology last October. Countries like Singapore and Thailand have already adopted a shorter frequency separation standard between 400 and 500 khz.