FCC & Radio Ownership Limits

[TheBigA]

So basically the UK system of
Heart, Capitol, Hits Radio etc. Hundreds of stations playing the same networked music virtually nationwide. No local character, local news opt outs. Just a computer in an office churning out music. I'd basically stop listening to FM and go 100% podcasts and Spotify Playlists.

We have global music companies. The music you hear is being marketed globally, not just nationally. The idea that a radio station in Des Moines is providing local programming because of a local DJ is not really true. If you look at the music they play, there are likely many other stations playing the same music somewhere else. The musicians want to be heard everywhere, not just in certain places. They tour nationally to promote that music. If they just wanted to be heard on one station, they'd stay in their bedroom and never leave.

The FCC is hoping this will help the radio companies compete better with online and satellite. They're not thinking about programming at all. They thought that by giving AM stations FM translators that would keep the AM stations afloat. What it led to is companies wanting to shut down the AM and just operate the translator.

 

[umfan]

Carr, NAB Build Case For First Step In Media Ownership Reform Ahead Of Vote.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr and NAB are intensifying their push to eliminate the 39% national TV ownership cap ahead of an August vote, arguing outdated rules handicap local broadcasters against

www.insideradio.com

Some interesting points made by Carr and the NAB over what seems like an inevitable move to remove the ownership caps next month.

 

[K.M. Richards]

They thought that by giving AM stations FM translators that would keep the AM stations afloat. What it led to is companies wanting to shut down the AM and just operate the translator.

If Carr actually knew anything, he'd put that proposal forward.

 

[cc333]

If the FCC had enforced their rules properly 30 years ago, the AM band wouldn't have become so overwhelmed with noise from sloppily-made electronics that lack proper shielding.

c

 

[TheBigA]

If the FCC had enforced their rules properly 30 years ago, the AM band wouldn't have become so overwhelmed with noise from sloppily-made electronics that lack proper shielding.

It's hard to get the Chinese to comply with US laws.

 

[cc333]

True.

But the FCC could've tried harder, couldn't they?

c

 

[K.M. Richards]

It's hard to get the Chinese to comply with US laws.

If we'd had administrations during those decades when that interference was starting to emerge, and if the FCC has been more diligent during those same decades, there could have been legal blockades created to prevent the import of the offending devices.

But that's two "ifs" in a row, unfortunately, and unless we can build a time machine to go back and change the timeline (channeling the spirit of H.G. Wells here) ...

 

[Schroedingers Cat]

The FM Translators for AM stations HAVE saved some AMs from being cancelled. However, the ones that have been saved are often low powered <=1 kW Class Ds and generally 1 kW Class Cs. More powerful facilities have been lost because of a combination of translator rules. Also, DAs for the more powerful stations. But not all markets have a demand for land which makes small amounts of DA land ridiculously valuable. Mainly large markets do. The need for two dimensional multitier arrays would be reduced if the standard pattern rules for RSS computation were relaxed. That would allow linear and slight dogleg arrays that use less land to be used. Selling part of the land and using remaining towers saved KAAY as a Class B.