Rush Limbaugh breathed another 25 years into AM radio, but time is running out. Other than getting rid of Rush, the FCC can’t agree on how to “save” a technology whose time has come and gone. The FCC’s Republican member with the [asian] Indian roots particularly wants to save it. Mignon Clyburn opined that FM radio was a bad thing during her brief usurpation of the job of FCC chairperson.<\/p>\n
The FCC solicited comments on changes on ways to improve AM Radio. The technical problems include
\n– analog AM is subject to static from lightning
\n– towers are very expensive to maintain, especially directional ones
\n– hybrid HDRadio doesn’t work well and few receivers can hear it
\n– background noises like computers drown out weak signals
\n– reflection off the ionosphere makes nighttime operation problematic, including stray medium wave signals from Europe in the Eastern US
\n– propagation works poorly above 1450 kHz <\/p>\n
http:\/\/apps.fcc.gov\/ecfs\/proceeding\/view?name=13-249<\/a><\/p>\n So what do various factions want? I’ll try to summarize each in a sentence NAB – we want a new online video service! And yes, we still love AM radio! Business as usual!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rush Limbaugh breathed another 25 years into AM radio, but time is running out. Other than getting rid of Rush, the FCC can’t agree on how to “save” a technology whose time has come and gone. The FCC’s Republican member … Continue reading
\nFirst, the actual FCC proposals<\/a>, some of which are very technical and arcane
\n– allow AM stations to cut to the front of the line to get FM translators before those goddamn commie LPFM stations destroy commercial radio
\n– allow AM stations to cover only a portion of their licensed community (for example, South Side of Chicago)
\n– allow AM stations at night to not fully cover their entire community (ibid)
\n– getting rid of a rule protecting legacy AM stations from smaller stations that want improve their transmitters
\n– allow a new technology that reduces power consumption
\n– allow much shorter antennas even though they use waste electricity<\/p>\n
\nNational Association of Black Owned Broadcasters – we agree with everything the Minority Media Telecommunicatuns Council (MMTC) and Mignon Clyburn wants,
\nPuerto Rico – stop stalling on allowing synchronous AM translators!
\nIHeart (Clear Channel) save AM programming but kill AM transmitters – and chase down unauthorized people claiming Title 15 protection!
\nKintronics – force all new AM radios to use our superior patented technologies! And AM Stereo!
\nPrometheus Project (LPFM advocates) – you and the NAB are lying bastards and can go to hell, or Puerto Rico
\nTexas Association of broadcasters – here are some down to earth realistic suggestions. Consider the AM technology used in Egypt
\nNPR – stop fining us if someone fucking swears on live radio
\nChuck Harder – I’m still alive no thanks to you fucking idiots
\niBiquity (HDRadio) – force stations to use our patented technology<\/p>\n