Category Archives: The FCC

“Saving” AM radio status

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Fred Stiening

Last Friday was the Day 1 for AM station license holders to apply to add an FM Translator (“FX” in FCC jargon) to rebroadcast AM stations on the FM band at up to 250 watts – that will reach perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in FM Translators, Saving AM radio, The FCC | 2 Comments

One week until the FM translator for AM land rush

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Fred Stiening

January 29th, 2016 is the starting date for small town (Class C and Class D) AM stations to apply for the once in a lifetime opportunity to move (acquire) an existing FM translator from up to 250 miles away. This … Continue reading →

Posted in FM Translators, Saving AM radio, The FCC | Leave a comment

Let the AM Translating begin!

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Fred Stiening

The FCC announced the starting gun for AM Class C and D (small) AM stations to acquire an FM translator will fire at midnight on January 29th. There are a few rules – the existing FM translator has to be … Continue reading →

Posted in FM Translators, Radio Biz, The FCC | Leave a comment

Welcome to the all new FCC web site!

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Fred Stiening

With all of two week’s notice, the FCC is rolling out a completely new Obama Millenial-friendly (more pictures, fewer words) web site. https://prototype.fcc.gov/ Undoubtedly lots of stuff here will break.

Posted in About the Guide, The FCC | 2 Comments

Desktop streaming is dead

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Fred Stiening

Maybe the FCC has saved AM radio, but nothing will save desktop computers. The just released metrics from Nielsen’s Triton digital is that 73.8% of all streaming is now done from mobile devices, mostly iDevices and Android.

Posted in About the Guide, Mobile Streaming, Player Metrics, Radio Biz, Saving AM radio, Streaming Royalties, Zombie Watch | 2 Comments

FCC Saves AM radio!

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Fred Stiening

73 pages of changes AM stations can buy or move existing translators up to 250 miles In 2017, a one time option to acquire new FM translators on ANY available FM frequency Approval of wider use of transmitters that vary … Continue reading →

Posted in Dead Things, Radio Biz, Saving AM radio, The FCC | Leave a comment

Application Party Search

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Fred Stiening

This has been available for many years, but off in a corner. Every party of every FCC application since about 1978 is archived by the FCC and made available in the CDBS data download. In my quest to be Better … Continue reading →

Posted in About the Guide, The FCC | 5 Comments

The HDx fed FM translator “problem”

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Fred Stiening

Part of the reason for the flurry of HDRadio posts is the issue of FM translators (FX) being “fed” by HD 2/3/4 channels, to essentially carve out a brand new FM radio station that doesn’t even count against the BigRadio™ … Continue reading →

Posted in HDRadio™, Low Power FM, Radio Biz, The FCC | 2 Comments

The current state of HDRadio™

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Fred Stiening

If you read this blog regularly, you are aware that HDradio has a new owner. I am beginning to view this as a positive development. In many ways, HDradio was designed to fail – and so far the FCC has … Continue reading →

Posted in Radio Biz, The FCC | 2 Comments

Non-Commercial encroachment

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Fred Stiening

This topic has been gaining momentum and became more visible when George Beasley started complaining about a new Low Power FM station in Tampa that sounds too much like a Commercial radio station, other than the lack of “formal” commercials. … Continue reading →

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