New Breed Of Radio To Hit Airwaves Soon

Americans soon may be able to drive coast to coast and listen to the same radio station for the whole trip.

After four years of work, the Federal Communications Commission is finalizing a plan that would create a new breed of radio stations that could be heard anywhere in the country.

If approved by the FCC, the stations - at least three years away - would be transmitted nationally by satellite and would use digital technology, which would provide listeners with CD-quality audio.

The new stations are likely to be offered for a charge and will be marketed mainly to people who spend a lot of time in their cars.

But the concept faces hurdles.

James Cotton, a Federal Express truck driver, thought people would “lose something” by tuning into a national radio station.

“I don’t think you can get away with a totally national service,” he said. “How do you know that the Woodrow Wilson bridge was closed?”