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*      RADIO-L :  a discussion of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)    *
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Date: Sat Sep  2 03:08:03 1995
From: smerdonp@melbpc.org.au (Peter Smerdon)
Subject: Australian DAB


A rather belated response to the moderator's call for a report on the
Australian ABC Digital radio conference  (so much technology ... so little
time...).

I attended this conference and found it most useful.

First a little background for those not familiar with the Australian radio
infrastructure.

The Govt Dept charged with the responsibility for oversight of radio (and
TV) broadcast matters is the Dept of Communications and the Arts (DOCA). The
present Minister is Michael Lee. Minister Lee was working as an Electrical
Engineer (power generation) before coming into Parliament - so he
understands the engineering discipline.

There are several sections of the DOCA intimately involved with radio
broadcasting (hence DAB - or as it is to be called here Digital Sound
Broadcasting DSB).

The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) issues broadcast licences and
the Spectrum Management Agency (SMA) allocates spectrum space for all
spectrum users, including broadcasters. The National Transmission Agency
(NTA) provides transmission facilities for the two Govt funded national
broadcasters - the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special
Broadcasting Service (SBS) - the budget for this task is held by the NTA and
not the broadcasters.

NTA is planning/engineering centred, and the maintenance of their sites is
usually contracted out. At present most (all?) NTA sites are maintained by
the Telecom Aust (now known as Telstra) Broadcasting Directorate. Telecom
(and its predecessor the Post Master Generals Dept) has historically always
"looked after" the National Broadcasters transmitters - but the NTA has been
charged with bringing competition into the construction and maintenance of
their sites - so Telstra Broadcasting has now had to re-tender for the
contracts in the face of competition.

Commercial radio (and TV) stations own and operate their own transmitters,
as do the community broadcasters - but sometimes they share sites with, or
rent space from the NTA.

Now on to the conference.

The Minister Michael Lee, in his opening address said "From my point of view
I am generally attracted to the Canadian model. Through its two-phased
approach I believe it provides a basis from which we in Australia can work
to introduce DSB" A ringing endorsement indeed!

He also announced that the next stage of the experimental trials would be
the establishment of experimental DSB stations in Sydney, Melbourne and
Brisbane using the Eureka standard - with the transmitters funded by the
Govt, licensed to the NTA but with participation by all tiers of
broadcasting. He looked to "incumbent broadcasters" to meet the cost of the
trial receivers.

(The first trialling stage was L-band satellite transmissions conducted
recently by DOCA's Communications Lab.)

He also re-established the high level advisory committee on DSB which was
set up for the 1992 ITU Conference, with a view to it providing fresh advice
to Govt on DSB.

The keynote speaker for the conference was Steve Edwards, VP Corporate
Engineering & technology, Rodgers Broadcasting Ltd Canada.
Mr Rodgers presented a paper on the potential services which could be
provided using the Eureka 147 system, as well as an exciting glimpse into
the progress of DAB in Canada - including in the area of public information
campaigns. It was an impressive insight.

Another guest speaker was Glynn Walden, Director, Engineering; Group W Radio
USA who made a presentation on USA Digital Radio's IBOC system.
His presentation was somewhat more technical (and I fear was lost on the
non-technical members of the audience).

Sensing a pro-Eureka audience he seemed to take a slightly defensive stance.
He painted IBOC as a special case to meet the USA's unique needs - firstly
there was no way the Govt would ever allow DAB on the L band and secondly
there was a need to tightly link any new digital service to existing licences.

Other subjects covered at the conference were:

Online Services - Implications for Broadcasters
Several speakers outlined the range of online audio and information services
which are available now or shortly - RealAudio, music via the Internet,
radio on the Internet etc.

Planning for DSB - by Colin Knowles of the ABA
The ABA and SMA's activities in preparing for L-Band allocations

The Delta Project - Digital Delivery Systems - by Peter Kepreotes ABC Radio
A look at the technology recently introduced in ABC radio for digital
program distribution around Australia - both satellite and terrestrial.

Radio Data Systems
What is RDS by Lynn Weber - Differential Correction Inc USA
and
An RDS Application - Differential Global Positioning System
by Tony Wheeler - Aust Land Surveying Group (AUSLIG)
The ABC is co-operating with AUSLIG to provide an accuracy-enhancing system
for GPS using the RDS subcarrier of some ABC FM transmitters.


I hope the above was not too verbose, and of interest.

Peter Smerdon.
Technical Manager, SBS Radio-Melbourne.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
   Peter Smerdon                          (internet)
   Internet: smerdonp@melbpc.org.au       The world is an amazing place!
   Phone   : +61-3-9808-0704                 ^
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