The FCC announced its plan to "save" AM radio on Oct. 23.
Produced for Oct. 30, but can air a few days later.
After talking about saving AM radio for the past two years, the Federal Communications Commission released its AM Radio Revitalization Report and Order Oct. 23. The plan to save AM radio is finally here, and the answer is largely to move AM stations onto the FM band. Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, said the order will, ease regulatory burdens on AM broadcasters and address practical problems and interference-related issues that have long plagued AM stations. Commissioner Ajit Pai, the Republican leading the charge to bring back old time AM radio, released a statement with Commissioner Mignon Clyburn that said the order, acknowledges the realities of the upcoming incentive auction and the need for immediate relief for AM stations. That means he s happy commercial AM broadcasters are going to have their way on the FM frequencies through translater auctions. Now the commission will next year allow AM licensees to acquire an FM translator, even relocating one from up to 250 miles away if necessary. The next year, the FCC will hold more translator auction windows for AM broadcasters. Many other more minor actions were taken to save AM radio, but the biggest is this translator giveaway, which may preclude or pre-empt low-power FM stations and room for more non-commercial voices.
FCC plans to save AM radio with FM for Oct. 30, 2015
Radio news about radio waves.
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Oct. 30, 2015
Produced at Wave Farm/WGXC in the Hudson Valley, New York.
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