Columbia, MD - May 21, 2008 - Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Commission (COFETEL) announced that it is authorizing radio stations within 320km of its border with the United States to begin transmitting with digital HD Radio technology. The official statement from COFETEL states:

Considering the extent of the development and implementation of the IBOC system in the United States of America, Mexico is required to take decisive action so that [the country's AM and FM radio stations] in the zone located within 320 kilometers of the northern border of Mexico can transmit at the same technological level so that they can provide the benefits of quality service to the radio listening public.

Stations that want to transmit with HD Radio technology must request authorization from COFETEL and must commit to assisting the commission in studying the technology.