The power increase is what is propelling HD Radio from a niche product to a mainstream product. It's incredible to see the increased interest in HD Radio just in 2010, with more vehicle makers announcing support, retail electronics stores carrying a plethora of products with HD, and more FM stations deploying HD. It'll still take many years for HD to become as ubiquitous as FM, but it took FM 40 years! Fortunately there's no deadline here, it happens when it happens. For radio stations, the cost of adding HD is minimal, and with the in royalties by iBiquity, even less than it was in 2009. It's rare to see a win-win-win technology, but HD Radio is it. Good for listeners, good for broadcasters, good for equipment manufacturers.

Interesting. Is iBiquity thinking that Europe is going to upgrade to HD from DAB and DAB+? It would be very good if digital radio could be a standard across the world like AM and FM radio, and HD is thus far the best digital radio technology on the market. The royalty issue may limit HD Radio's appeal, but in reality the royalties are not significant given the advantages of HD over DAB/DAB+. In the past six months HD Radio has made great strides in the U.S., going from a virtually unknown technology to being visible everywhere. Retailers are now carrying a large number of HD radios, and most urban FM stations have added HD broadcasting.

Fast tuning alone makes HD radio attractive. And the station I listen to that has just increased their digital power by 4 times, has really solid coverage now. The HD power increase really made the difference. Their chief engineer told me that the station is ready to go to 10X HD power level and is planning to do that soon. HD Radio is now ready for prime time, something which I would not have said at the 1% power level.