Washington - Sep 29, 2010 - The National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) adopted a new guideline to provide broadcast engineers an easy-to-use method for determining an FM IBOC station's authorized total digital sideband power level. NRSC-G202, FM IBOC Total Digital Sideband Power for Various Configurations, was adopted by the Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) subcommittee, which is co-chaired by Andy Laird, VP and chief technology officer , Journal Broadcast Group; and Mike Bergman, VP of new digital technologies, Kenwood USA.

The IBOC Standards Development Working Group developed the standard. That working group is chaired by Dom Bordonaro, chief engineer, Cox Broadcasting Connecticut.

The guideline is intended to aid those responsible for or involved with FM IBOC facility design, operation and compliance monitoring. A companion, Web-based total digital signal calculator has also been designed by NRSC with assistance from consulting firm Cavell, Mertz and Associates.

This new document is a companion to another NRSC Guideline, NRSC-G201-A, and expands upon information contained in Annex 1 of that document. Following a final procedural review, the guideline and the Web-based calculator will be available on the NRSC website. These should be posted around Oct. 14, 2010.