Why do radio stations for the blind and vision impaired require a special radio to hear the broadcast?
by 
snowflake1556
ANSWERS: 3
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These radio "reader services" require a special radio because the signal is usally piggybacked on the radio signal of a regular radio station. I don't understand the tecnology of how that's done, but special receiver is needed to strip off the piggybacked signal and play it. If you live in an area where there is a radio reader service, contact them. They can tell you about getting the special receiver, and usually have low-cost alternatives for those who need it.
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The answer to your question is that the radio station is transmitting a parallel program on a special frequency that is not tuneable with an ordinary radio. Usually the service is pay-to-listen. The service is called SCA, or Subsidiary Communications Authorized transmission. Sometimes it's called Sub Carrier Audio programming. You can secretly listen in on these and other hidden programs. Every radio station does not offer SCA programming. With satellite radio becoming more and more affordable, many of these transmissions have moved to satellite. Here is a link to a website with the answers to all of your questions and it includes a place to purchase the required hardware, which is added to your existing FM radio. Many stores also use SCA for background muzak. Some people make a hobby of locating these hidden broadcasts. There are also hidden SCA broadcasts on big-dish satellite frequencies. Here is the website: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/sca-pll.html -J Tucker
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I understand it is based on three factors: 1. preserving the copyright exemption by limiting the broadcast to eligible print disabled listeners -- by restricting it to an SCA there's no legally objectionable economic impact to the copyright holder by folks listening to the newspaper rather than buying one; 2. the subchannel approach also provides a "safe harbor" for verbatim readings of books with racy passages by keeping them away from the regular public; 3. and a practical factor: the print disabled audience is such a small fragment of the overall population that an over the air channel would be highly unlikely to target such a small audience (as well as see item 1). Mike Starling
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