FM extended band in Brazil

In Brazil, the FM extended band (Portuguese: faixa estendida), abbreviated eFM, refers to the extension of the FM broadcast band between 76.1 and 87.3 MHz, beyond the conventional band of 87.5 to 108 MHz that was previously used. The reclaimed spectrum was previously used to broadcast analog television channels 5 and 6 before the country's digital television transition. The first eFM stations began broadcasting on May 7, 2021, and the spectrum is being used as part of a plan to migrate AM stations to the FM band.

History

The idea of converting the former channels 5 and 6 for sound broadcasting use had been first floated in Brazil in 2013, as a method to support AM stations by migrating them to FM; that year, President Dilma Rousseff signed a law that started the AM–FM migration process in Brazil. Since then, 1,720 of the country's 1,781 AM outlets have requested migration, including in areas where no further FM stations could be added.^[1] Jovem Pan News in São Paulo was allowed by the Ministry of Communications to conduct tests on 84.7 MHz in 2014.^[2]

In 2017, a decree was issued that required all new radios produced in the Free Economic Zone of Manaus beginning on January 1, 2019, to support tuning the extended band.^[3] By 2019, some makers of new automobiles, including Ford and Hyundai, and stereo manufacturer Pioneer Corporation were producing radios that supported the new band.^[4] Necessary regulatory changes by the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) came into effect on November 3, 2020.^[5]

The new frequencies will support AM–FM migration in parts of Brazil where there is insufficient room to migrate stations on the standard band alone, which is the case in 14 states.^[6] However, they will not be accessible on all radio receivers, including smartphones, if these cannot be updated or replaced.^[7]

On May 7, 2021, the first ten stations began broadcasting on the extended band. Five, all on 87.1 MHz, are owned by the public broadcaster Brazil Communication Company (EBC). Four of those five are being used to rebroadcast Rádio Nacional's AM service, while the fifth has been designated to Rádio MEC in Brasilia, which already had Rádio Nacional AM on the FM band. The other five stations are existing AM stations.^[8]

It is planned that future highway advisory radio services use an eFM channel; only one such service exists in Brazil, CCR FM [pt].^[9]

References

1. "Migração de emissoras AM para FM usará frequências fora da faixa FM" [Migration of AM stations to FM will use frequencies outside of the FM Band]. Frontliner (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 31, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
2. "Plantão exclusivo: Jovem Pan AM já está no ar em FM estendido na Grande São Paulo - Rádio News" [Exclusive bulletin: Jovem Pan AM is now on the air on extended FM in Greater São Paulo]. TudoRadio (in Brazilian Portuguese). August 29, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
3. "Portaria obriga fabricantes a incluir faixa estendida nos rádios até 2019" [Decree requires manufacturers to include extended band in radios beginning in 2019]. Tele Síntese (in Brazilian Portuguese). September 22, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
4. "Aumenta presença do FM estendido em carros no Brasil" [Increased presence of extended FM in Brazilian cars]. Cultura FM Cuiaba (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 29, 2021.
5. "Regulamento que viabiliza migração AM-FM, com disponibilização da faixa estendida, passa a valer no dia 3 - Rádio News" [Regulation that makes AM–FM migration viable and makes extended band available takes effect on the 3rd]. TudoRadio (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 23, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
6. Cardoso Gonçalves, Dirceu (September 26, 2017). "TV digital fortalece o rádio brasileiro" [Digital TV strengthens Brazilian radio]. Jornal União (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 29, 2021.
7. "Curiosidade: Estações em eFM são captadas com facilidade em grandes centros como São Paulo - Rádio News" [Curiosity: eFM stations are easily received in major centers like São Paulo]. TudoRadio (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
8. "MCom entrega certificado às emissoras que estreiam a faixa estendida da FM" [MCom awards certificate to stations that debut the extended FM band]. Ministério das Comunicações (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
9. "Governo cria serviço de radiovias para cobrir estradas com rádio FM" [Government creates highway advisory radio service to cover highways with FM radio]. Tele Síntese (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.