But what does digital radio really mean? CBAA staffer, Danny Chifley, found himself so excited at the prospect he has become impatient that his own car is not keeping up… Danny writes -

Like many of you, I have been highly disappointed in the 21st century and its inability to provide me with a flying car. Obviously it is a mode of transport that is necessary for my lifestyle and I have been doing everything in my power to obtain one. I call the dealership every day and ask: ‘Where’s my flying car?’

‘It’s not ready yet’, said the gentleman at the car yard. ‘But the radio is fully installed. We assume you would want Digital Radio as standard’.

‘Of course!’ I said. ‘A silver one!’

‘Digital Radio is a term used not just for the actual, physical radio in your car,’ he sniffed. ‘It describes a whole new way in which radio is transmitted. AM and FM systems transmit an analog of the audio whereas Digital Radio delivers digital bit streams.’

‘This has several advantages. Reception is far more reliable, even in your flying car. The audio can be high quality or tailored to suit the program material. And digital radio can add value to existing services with extra audio feeds, images, data and text.’

‘That’s all well and good,’ I said ‘but I listen to community broadcasting. How will the community sector fit into the whole scheme?’

‘Well, the inclusion of the community sector across each coverage area requires use of an amount of radio-frequency spectrum and transmission capacity. The move towards the digital future requires co-ordination and co-operation between lots of different stakeholders.’

‘Which means that if digital transmission capacity was a bar, there would be a stool set aside for the community sector?’

‘In a manner of speaking…,’ his eyes rolled audibly. ‘More accurately, planning and systems have to be developed to ensure a co-operative and equitable sharing of the available transmission multiplex capacity.’

‘This transmission multiplex, what is it?'

‘To answer your question, multiplex is the term that describes the stream of data which contains all of the broadcast information - audio, text, images, etc... Each radio interpets this data to reproduce the audio, etc, and so it must conform to an agreed standard. Think of the role of a transmission standard as you might about PAL or NTSC for television. While no digital radio standard is finalised for use in Australia, the most likely is called Eureka 147.

‘EUREKA!!!!’

‘Yes sir... quite.... However while Eureka 147 is the current preferred standard, this does not preclude other planning options and transmission standards being adopted to ensure the best possible outcomes for Digital Radio in Australia.’

‘I’d like to see this thing in action,’ I replied. ‘How do I go about it?’

‘Trials are under way as we speak. The CBF has provided funds to the CBAA to assist community broadcasting sector involvement with Digital Radio trials in Sydney and Melbourne. Both trial licence holders, Commercial Radio Australia and Broadcast Australia, have set aside costs for carriage of the community sector in the trials. Stations committed to the trials include 3RRR, 3ZZZ, 3RPH, 6RPH, 3MBS. 3CR, 3PBS, 2SER, 2MBS, 2FBI and several sub-metropolitan stations.’

‘Apart from simulcasting, several of the community stations have already tested the provision of extra audio feeds. There has been an extra RPH feed and a full time Greek language feed. 3MBS has even set up a system to provide artist information on screen. Special concert feeds and trials by other sub-metropolitan stations are also in the pipeline.’

‘What about government involvement?’ I enquired. ‘You mean in extra-terrestrial cover-ups? Forget I said that.’ ‘Said what?’ ‘Yes,’ he said quickly, cutting me off before I had a chance to react.

‘The government is gathering information from all stakeholders and intends to develop the framework to introduce digital radio within the year.’

‘New licence structures, new spectrum planning and setting up a digital broadcasting framework for the public good requires the caring and thoughtful hand of government.’

‘So,’ I questioned, ‘We have to overthrow the government?’

‘What you do on your own time is your business, but for now the government is committed to working with the community broadcasting industry to develop a policy for the introduction of digital radio.’

‘I’ve been fooled by the government before. Like that time they said a vote for them will mean a better future for me. It’s the future now. My car remains firmly planted on the ground. I remain unconvinced.’

‘The government has responded with a series of commitments that mean the community sector will be a part of the framework for digital radio in Australia; and that the inclusion of the community sector as an integral part of digital radio is to be arranged on a basis affordable for the community sector.’

‘They’ve gotten to you as well, haven’t they?’

‘Yes, but in a good way. The trials have been successful to the point where they will be renewed. The Australian Broadcasting Authority has decided to make spectrum available to continue digital radio trials in Sydney and Melbourne.’

‘OK. What’s a ‘spectrum?’

‘In this context it’s a radio frequency channel. It describes the platform on which the digital broadcast exists. Eureka 147 requires use of new spectrum over and above that already used for AM and FM.’

‘Much like the three dimensional highway upon which my flying car will traverse, then?

‘You seem to know a lot about this digital broadcasting. However, if you require further information I can direct you to several websites that deal with digital radio in a more in-depth fashion. I suggest the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia’s site, which is located at www.cbaa.org.au It also has information on how to contact the stations that are currently involved in the digital trials.’

‘Well,’ I said ‘You've been most helpful. But when's my flying car going to be ready?’