In a landmark ruling, federal regulators have cleared a new digital technology format that could transform the way people listen to AM and FM radio.
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously adopted technology called HD Radio on Thursday as the standard for converting analog stations to digital.
Experts say the technology transforms FM broadcasts into CD-quality sound, while AM transmissions can sound as clear as present-day FM. Because the signal is digital, it also can transmit text that displays the name of the song and artist on the radio receiver.
In the future, radio stations hope to generate new revenues by transmitting on-demand text services such as stocks, sports scores and localized traffic.
News source: SFGate - FCC clears way for CD-quality FM sound
