WRITTEN QUESTION E-0866/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 March 2000)

Subject: Protection of consumers against the deficiencies of audio equipment incorporating the new DAB technology

1. Is the Commission familiar with recent articles in the New Scientist of 12 February 2000 and Hi-Fi Choice of February 2000 concerning the new Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technology, which report that:

(a) buyers of DAB radios are promised near CD-quality sound, whereas the quality of some types of music is worse than on FM radio;

(b) DAB technology removes some of the sound and sometimes adds noise, as a result of which sound which has not been directly captured in the original recording on a CD or DAB tape may be seriously distorted;

(c) DAB radios currently cost at least 800, rising to over 1 600;

(d) the problem is largely due to dependence on the international standard of 48 kilohertz and the chips complying with this standard which are used in the radios, whereas, contrary to original expectations, 32 kilohertz produces better results?

2. Does the Commission agree that in the foreseeable future a steadily growing number of consumers are likely to be able to afford the now still expensive DAB technology and that, as this increase in sales may result in more and more buyers being confronted with the disadvantages of this technology, there is no good reason for delaying measures to protect the consumer against the further spread of an inadequate product?

3. Is the Commission prepared to take steps which ensure that:

(a) consumers who have already invested in the new DAB technology on the assumption that they have thus acquired a better-quality product are compensated by the producer for their purchase;

(b) measures are taken to adapt or improve this technology;

(c) radio transmitters adjust their signals in order to improve the quality of reception?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2000)

1. The Commission is aware of the issues raised by the Honourable Member.

The articles focus on the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system developed by the Eureka 147 research partners and standardised by the European telecommunications standards institute (ETSI)(1). However, the problem they raise is one of a more general nature. Any transmission system using digital compression will experience these difficulties if the programme source material has already been compressed during the programme production phase.

This so called concatenation of digital compression systems reduces the programme quality delivered to the end user. Imperfections are picked up each time and transmitted further down the chain. As a result, the final quality broadcast to the user may be worse than the original input.

The problem has already been identified and addressed in the digital television area. It is now possible to use compression for production and post-production and to recompress for digital transmission without significant loss of quality. It is possible that similar techniques could be applied in the case of digital radio, but no off the shelf technical solution exists for radio, as far as the Commission is aware.

2. Regarding the consumer protection aspects, the Commission feels there is no need to compensate consumers. DAB is still the standard which radio broadcasters want to use. In dynamic and converging communications markets, the Commission approach to technology and standards is to limit its interventions in the market to the strict minimum. Markets and consumers should make the appropriate choices. Although DAB is a European standard, its use is anyway not mandated by regulation at Community level.

3. The Commission believes that radio broadcasters should identify technical solutions for the problem of concatenated compression as quickly as possible. The problem could for instance be addressed by submitting a suitable project within the fifth framework programme. However, there are no doubt other measures that the industry could take in order to raise awareness and develop good practice.

(1) ETS 300 401 etc.: DAB specifications.