The FCC today granted Sirius Satellite Radio a special temporary authority to setup 4 terrestrial repeaters in Alaska and Hawaii with power levels below 2,000 watts.
UPDATED: Satellite Radio TechWorld points out that Sirius has actually not been granted authority to operate the repeaters in Alaska and Hawaii. Rather the application is now in now in a comment period.
This is actually bad news in that it will be a while before the FCC can make a ruling. (And you can thank the NAB for that.)
The application has been given the "permit-but-disclose" designation for the purposes of "ex parte communications." If you'd like to find out more about what exact this means, go check out Satellite Radio TechWorld for a detailed explanation.
Back in November, Sirius applied for the rights to broadcast in the two states.
Below are the proposed repeater location:
- Anchorage, AK
- Fairbanks, AK
- Juneau, AK
- Honolulu, HI
[Corrected info: Satellite Radio TechWorld]
Congratulations to Sirius! Just because you do not live in the contiguous states should not mean you have to listen to sub-par terrestrial radio. I hope this will be the same case for XM.
Anyone else get the feeling that if Dave Rehr's car was stuck in the snow and you were the only one that saved him from walking you still wouldn't help him.
That is one smug face that I care not to remember.
How big of an area can one repeater cover? How many would it take to cover Hawaii?
I am not really certain but my office is located less than 5 miles from a repeater and we get good coverage. However even though Oahu is rather small I think that island would need at least 4 or 5 if they wanted to cover the entire island. Hell if they put a high powered one up near the dole plantation that would probably help.
Repeaters needed based on me driving around the island 3 years ago:
North Shore (Sunset Beach Area) 1
Kailua 1
Honolulu 1
Pearl City 1
So...Where do those of us Alaskans who have already been screwed over by the FCC with Satellite TV not carrying our local channels go to comment on this?