It’s NAB convention time in Vegas where the Country’s broadcasters gather to shore up their government run monopoly over what Americans see and hear.<\/p>\n
Very often the FCC commissioners make an appearance. Since the two most knowledgable commissioners just resigned, there are only 3 members, two of whom showed up – the black woman from South Carolina who ran a blacks-only newspaper was a no show.<\/p>\n
The sole Republican member is the Indian Hindu man who sees the most important challenge at the FCC being to “save AM radio”, which the old timers are soaking up: One important issue facing the FCC is what to do with the space being vacated where TV channels 5 and 6 used to be (76-88 mHz) This is extremely valuable real estate. It’s in the FM range just below the existing FM Band and high enough that it doesn’t have the ionosphere “skip” that shows up on channels 2 and 3. Useful ideas include using it: expanding the FM band downward; community based low power LPFM; an all digital FM band with the goal of eventually turning off analog FM without the current hybrid technology; giving AM stations FM translators to begin the phase out of AM radio; using the spectrum for a new wireless broadband service or storing it away in the Social Security lock box. It’s something the NAB has a keen interest – the last thing they want is more radio stations.<\/p>\n The other Democrat member reiterated the expected collectivist rhetoric of “public interest”, “universal access” (see: Obamaphines) and “consumer protection” as part of the mission of the FCC – of course, TV and Radio aren’t really connected to phone service directly, although the FCC would like TV to give back spectrum for more wireless broadband<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s NAB convention time in Vegas where the Country’s broadcasters gather to shore up their government run monopoly over what Americans see and hear. Very often the FCC commissioners make an appearance. Since the two most knowledgable commissioners just resigned, … Continue reading
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