WABC starts petition to save AM radio

[PTBoardOp94]

However, the intent of the proposed law is to carry out the mission of the DHS, not the NAB.

That's what the NAB wants you to think. In reality, the two are unrelated: AM radio is but one thread in the EAS blanket.

If AM radio disappeared tomorrow, EAS would still work because of IPAWS.

 

[TheBigA]

That's what the NAB wants you to think. In reality, the two are unrelated: AM radio is but one thread in the EAS blanket.

If AM radio disappeared tomorrow, EAS would still work because of IPAWS.

The law is still the law. AM radio stations are still required by the FCC and the DHS to be on the air to provide access when needed. If that's not true, then the requirement should be eliminated. Until it is, the NAB represents the owners who are obeying the law.

This is not some made up thing. For people who own stations, it's a very real obligation.

 

[MarkW]

Why this obsession with the NAB? Don't you understand their role? They are a lobbying organization. That's their job.

Of course they are. Like many special interest groups, they use half-truths in pursuit of policy goals.

Whether or not AM radio is a mandatory "thing" in cars should have zero bearing on AM broadcasters' responsibility to disseminate emergency alerts. Many AM and FM stations likely already fail to live up to that responsibility.

 

[davideduardo]

BTW I wasn't equating AM to seat belts. Just observing that the reason they exist is because they're required by law, not because of market forces. It's nice that usage rates are high. But there's also the threat of a fine for not wearing them.

We just had a local news lead story over the weekend where a Tesla hit an SUV with 8 people on board, most without their seat belts on. Two were killed instantly as they shot over 30 feet through windows, and 3 more are in intensive care and the other 3 are still hospitalized.

Anyone who saw that report should never even drive to visit a neighbor without a seat belt.

 

[TheBigA]

Of course they are. Like many special interest groups, they use half-truths in pursuit of policy goals.

However, the law is still the law, regardless of what you believe, and regardless of whether or not people use AM radio.

Maybe you can show me where the law doesn't apply to AM.

 

[davideduardo]

Many AM and FM stations likely already fail to live up to that responsibility.

That is not true. There may be an occasional equipment failure or negligence, but stations conduct tests that must be logged and they receive area-wide alert tests. We know that an inspection by the FCC will immediately look at that along with a couple of other requirements and any noncompliance will be met with sanctions.

 

[MarkW]

Maybe you can show me where the law doesn't apply to AM.

Where did I ever make such a suggestion?

I said AM shouldn't be mandatory in cars, and I said FM is more important than AM in terms of being able to reach the public with emergency info.

I never said AM broadcasters should skirt their legal obligations relative to the EAS or anything else.

That is not true. There may be an occasional equipment failure or negligence, but stations conduct tests that must be logged and they receive area-wide alert tests. We know that an inspection by the FCC will immediately look at that along with a couple of other requirements and any noncompliance will be met with sanctions.

There are multiple instances in my area where EAS alerts for tornado warnings have not been broadcast by some stations.

 

[pclover]

On the topic of save AM radio does Part 15 compliance even exist anymore? This has major impact to AM radio quality.

Sure, you can write it on a product and have a testing sample but it enforced after that? There is so much crap out that spews out garbage that it seems hard to believe it actually is compliant. Mostly dirt cheap switch mode power supplies that are built horribly. Of recent bad inverters for solar that pop up more and more.

I'll include this old article Steps to Lower Noise Floor and Revitalize AM Radio. I did like this idea from the article

FCC Lab should perform random off-the-shelf product testing of consumer electronic products to confirm compliance. Manufacturers found to be guilty of selling non-compliant products should be issued commensurate fines that will serve to inform them and other manufacturers that the manufacture and importation of non-compliant products into the US market will not be tolerated.

 

[TheBigA]

Where did I ever make such a suggestion?

The entire radio chain, from the studio to the transmitter to the receiver, is all regulated by the FCC. Not just the transmit side.

You're giving an exemption to the receivers, while maintaining the obligation of the transmitter. A transmitter without receivers is useless.

There are multiple instances in my area where EAS alerts for tornado warnings have not been broadcast by some stations.

File a complaint with the FCC. If you can prove it, the station will be fined.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Sure, you can write it on a product and have a testing sample but it enforced after that? There is so much crap out that spews out garbage that it seems hard to believe it actually is compliant. Mostly dirt cheap switch mode power supplies that are built horribly.

Yes. There is a market surveillance program. My company had our stuff tested. The only reason we were involved is because the manufacturer is responsible for paying for the surveillance program. Surprise, a bureaucrat drew our number out of a hat and now we owe $10,000!

I can't say how effective and/or broad the surveillance program is, but it does exist.

 

[MarkW]

You're giving an exemption to the receivers, while maintaining the obligation of the transmitter. A transmitter without receivers is useless.

That's certainly true, but many folks who do possess capable receivers choose to never listen to AM radio. The horrendous reception issues and poor receiver specs are probably more responsible for the band's diminishing relevance than anything else.

A sizable number of tabletop receivers on the market do not feature AM capability, and that's been the case for quite some time.

 

[TheBigA]

That's certainly true, but many folks with capable receivers choose to never listen to AM radio.

There is no law mandating people to listen. But if the device is not available, they don't have a choice.

A sizable number of tabletop receivers on the market do not feature AM capability, and that's been the case for quite some time.

The FCC has been reticent to make those kinds of requirements in the home. They never required FM or HD Radio in home devices either.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

However, the law is still the law, regardless of what you believe, and regardless of whether or not people use AM radio.

Maybe you can show me where the law doesn't apply to AM.

Maybe you can name this law?

I'm mostly curious to see what the penalty is and how it is enforced. For example, iHeart's WHAS, the PEP station serving much of Kentucky, was off 10p-5a for a couple of weeks last year for transmitter repairs. Had Pres. Biden issued a presidential message during that time, would WHAS have been liable?

File a complaint with the FCC. If you can prove it, the station will be fined.

That is not correct. Stations are not obligated to air weather warnings at all. From an FCC advisory dated January 2021:

The EAS is a national public warning system that enables the President to communicate via live audio
transmission to the public during a national emergency. EAS Participants must transmit Presidential
messages during national emergencies and may transmit local messages, such as severe weather alerts and
AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alerts.

Note the words MUST and MAY.

 

[davideduardo]

That's certainly true, but many folks who do possess capable receivers choose to never listen to AM radio. The horrendous reception issues and poor receiver specs are probably more responsible for the band's diminishing relevance than anything else.

You are forgetting that the main reason why most AM stations have become non-viable is the urban sprawl of most markets. Those better AMs, mostly licensed in the later 20's and 30's, were not designed for huge coverage areas.

In Phoenix, only one station even approaches full market coverage. In Houston, only one. Same in Atlanta and Nashville... and so on down the list.

Increasing noise levels only make it worse, but most facilities on AM can't cover their whole market day and night even if all the wallwarts and other noise generators were turned off.

 

[pclover]

That's certainly true, but many folks with capable receivers choose to never listen to AM radio. The horrendous reception issues and poor receiver specs are probably more responsible for the band's diminishing relevance than anything else.

A sizable number of tabletop receivers on the market do not feature AM capability, and that's been the case for quite some time.

On the receiver side I don't know why so many radios have to be bad. Something with a synchronous detector helps ALOT. I figure that does not exist all in car radios. With that said It's not like it costs a fortunate to build something decent. Seems they just put something without any care and say good enough.

Perhaps for EVs if it does get mandated would present a major issue because they'd have to design stuff to minimize RFI instead of not worrying about it. Are EVs considered part 15 devices yet?

 

[MarkW]

You are forgetting that the main reason why most AM stations have become non-viable is the urban sprawl of most markets. Those better AMs, mostly licensed in the later 20's and 30's, were not designed for huge coverage areas.

What you described, in my opinion, falls under "horrendous reception issues." And, yes, that is an absolutely valid point on your part, Mr. Eduardo.

I generally describe the AM band as functionally obsolescent for mainstream broadcasting purposes due to the bizarre coverage patterns of so many stations, poor receiver design, and susceptibility to man-made interference sources. There are certainly some very successful AM stations in markets of all sizes that continue to thrive, but that number grows increasingly smaller with time.

 

[TheBigA]

WHAS, the PEP station serving much of Kentucky, was off 10p-5a for a couple of weeks last year for transmitter repairs.

There are rules regarding how long a station can be off the air, and if they have to file paperwork with the FCC.

 

[TheBigA]

There are certainly some very successful AM stations in markets of all sizes that continue to thrive, but that number grows increasingly smaller with time.

There are provisions for that in the proposed law:

The law would also direct the Government Accountability Office to study whether alternative communication systems are as effective in reaching the public during emergencies.

 

[Yabadabado1]

We just had a local news lead story over the weekend where a Tesla hit an SUV with 8 people on board, most without their seat belts on. Two were killed instantly as they shot over 30 feet through windows, and 3 more are in intensive care and the other 3 are still hospitalized.

Anyone who saw that report should never even drive to visit a neighbor without a seat belt.

I'm a seat belt fan. I feel "naked" if I'm not wearing one. Probably has more to do with learning to drive in a Honda N600 [pictured]. Car was so small and light I could pick up the back end of it by myself. But when you have semis barrelling down the highway next to use at it struggled to go up a hill.....scary, and wearing the belt made me feel a little more secure. But, on the other hand: Friend who was driving home from work fell asleep and was hit head on by a semi and tossed into the back seat. If he had had his seat belt on he would have been killed. 9 months later after recovering and on his first day back to work, drunk driver hit him head on and killed him. If he HAD been wearing his seat belt he probably would have lived but he never wore one after that first wreck.

 

[CTListener]

The FCC has been reticent to make those kinds of requirements in the home. They never required FM or HD Radio in home devices either.

But most people spend more time at home than they do on the road. And at any given time, there are likely more of them listening to radio (FM or AM) on their home receivers than listening to AM in their cars. Come on, Nanny State! The blood will be on your hands when that asteroid smashes into New York City and thousands of Manhattanites have no tuner included in their home entertainment system to hear WCBS or WINS telling them what to do.