The floodgates opened for Class A and B AM stations (really big stations) to add an FM translator by moving an existing FM translator up to 250 miles. The problem is the large AM stations tend to be in big cities and most big cities have no room in the FM band for another FM signal, or the translator is more valuable retransmitting an HD 2/3 channel that doesn’t count against FM ownership limits.
The big winner is Alaska. Because it is so big, it is full of high power AM stations and little competition for FM channels.
There are 26 Class A and 342 class B FM translators as of today. Many were purchased and existed prior to the FCC intervention in the marketplace
The Class A stations not in Alaska:
WLW-AM Cincinnati, OH (Clear Channel/iHeart)
KOKC-AM Oklahoma City, OK
KOA-AM Denver, CO (iHeart)
The FCC is planning another session of “Saving AM radio” next year where any AM station can ask for an FM translator for free, if there is an available FM channel. AM radio will be Great Again! (Living on FM)
If the FCC really wanted to save AM, they would approve use of fiberglass antennas for omnidirectional use. Freeing up the land underneath AM towers would make them more viable, and even make it inexpensive enough in major markets to build brand new AM stations. But the last thing the NAB wants is a free market with new competitors.