Royal Decree 1287/1999 of 23 July approved the National Technical Plan for Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting. Its main objective was the orderly introduction of digital technology in the sound broadcasting sector (technology Digital Audio Broadcasting, DAB).
Its successive modifications have sought to promote the implementation of digital technology as well as to adapt the operating conditions of this audiovisual communication service to the technological and economic situation of the sector at various times.
Subsequently, the European Code of Electronic Communications approved in December 2018 and transposed to our current Law 11/2022, of June 28, General of Telecommunications, collected conditions relating to interoperability of the receivers of radio services for cars, establishing that the receivers integrated in a new vehicle of category M introduced for sale or rent in the European Union, must include a receiver capable of receiving and reproducing at least the broadcasting services offered through digital terrestrial broadcasting.
This measure shows the interest also at European level in the broadcasting of terrestrial sound broadcasting services by means of digital technologies.
In spite of all this, the audience of the audiovisual communication service of terrestrial digital sound broadcasting in Spain is still comparatively small in relation to other forms and technologies of broadcasting of the sound broadcasting service in our country.
One of the mechanisms available to relaunch the audiovisual communication service of digital terrestrial sound broadcasting in Spain is the incorporation and extension of the latest technologies available in this service, such as DAB+ technology.
DAB+ technology allows a more efficient use of the spectrum, optimizes the encoding of the audio signal making it more robust against interference, allows advanced audio formats (multichannel sound) and allows the incorporation of certain functionalities such as ASA (Automatic Safety Alert).
That is why the State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures (SETELECO) is analysing the possibility of initiating and processing a regulatory initiative aimed at adopting measures aimed at promoting the audiovisual communication service of digital terrestrial sound broadcasting through the introduction and extension of DAB+ technology.
Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of article 133.1 of Law 39/2015, of 1 October, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations and article 26.2 of Law 50/1997, of 27 November, of the Government, through the present public consultation, the opinion of the subjects and the most representative organizations potentially affected by the future rule on:
- The problems that are intended to be solved with the initiative.
- The need and opportunity for its approval.
- The objectives of the standard.
- The possible alternative regulatory and non-regulatory solutions.