FCC to consider ongoing operation of existing FM6/Franken FMs, Expanded FM Band and Elimination of Reserved Band Protection Requirements

[gr8oldies]

It's a technicality, but it gives enormous value to the HD proposition. What it does is allow station owners to have another FM outside the normal market limits. In all but the largest geographic metros a good translator with adequate height is essentially another competitive FM.

Two separate issues. An expanded band requires new radios. Statistically, nobody is buying new radios today... they buy multi-use devices, whether they are cellphones, tablets or Amazon's friendly Alexa. Ain't gonna' happen. Oh, and the average car is about 12 years old today. So it will take over a decade to get a "new" piece added to the FM band into less than half of all cars.

The only people who think the band is crowded are those who were in the habit of listening to stations that are not protected in the listening location... in other words, listening to out of market area stations.

Not to mention owners of rimshots who have to realize their license says "West Podunk" not "NearbyBigTown".

 

[Theater of My Mind]

It's a technicality, but it gives enormous value to the HD proposition. What it does is allow station owners to have another FM outside the normal market limits. In all but the largest geographic metros a good translator with adequate height is essentially another competitive FM.

This is only a benefit for the station owners who, as you correctly explain, are exploiting a loophole to exceed their market limits. It's actually pretty dirty since those market limits were put in place for a reason.

HD Radio was never meant to be an STL service. For the FCC to allow this practice is ridiculous, they should just call it what it is, a way for big broadcasters to have more FM stations than they were allowed. Drop the whole translator charade, rubber stamp them as radio stations, turn off the HD and feed the transmitters normally like the rest of the stations in their clusters.

 

[Kelly A]

However it would be a whole lot cheaper to just drive around with a loud car stereo and the windows down.

Probably better coverage too.

 

[Kelly A]

HD Radio was never meant to be an STL service. For the FCC to allow this practice is ridiculous, they should just call it what it is, a way for big broadcasters to have more FM stations than they were allowed.

Actually it was intended as a digital solution to the (at the time) concerns about the potential for encroaching satellite radio. Everything new was digital, digital, and more digital. Broadcasters thought HD/IBOC was a way to get into the digital game while keeping their analog signals. Problem was, they did a horrible job at promoting it. My experience was; the only people who understood the potential for ancillary digital audio streams, was the (to an extent) corporate offices and engineers.

Drop the whole translator charade, rubber stamp them as radio stations, turn off the HD and feed the transmitters normally like the rest of the stations in their clusters.

Using HD as an STL is within the rules. Just because you don't think it has a purpose, doesn't make it wrong.

 

[Chad-Stevens]

I know Michi and REC in particular are working hard on this and I would certainly not suggest they stop, but it's hard to disagree with this assessment.

How long is it going to take for this initiative to work its way through the FCC, even assuming it's ultimately successful? Then after that, how long before radio makers, and especially vehicle makers, would start to implement the expanded band into their products? Once they do, won't it take another 15+ years beyond that before most people have purchased new vehicles that even have the capability of receiving these stations?

I know REC is working hard on this and I actually give it a reasonable chance of passing if NPR is on board with it and if other major countries (PRC, Brazil, Japan) are expanding their BCBs. At least, that means the receivers will be produced. I don't know if I'd give it a 50-50 chance, but it's a possibility that can't be ignored.
I still think that the 10-15 years it's going to take to get FM Wide-capable receivers out there is going to be too late to save most of the broadcasters who could benefit from it. (Heck, in 2009 during the digital TV transition, smartphones barely existed!)
I'm just not sure I want any more non-commercial or "community" stations to have this band if it occurs. I can only judge by what I've seen from the local LPFMs: expired CPs, jukebox oldies, satellite-fed religion, one station that has apparently never operated for more than a few minutes but is still licensed as being operational, another whose tower has apparently never been at its licensed site, and one high school station that turned in its license within 5 years and never managed to set up a website or even a (FREE!) Facebook page in that time. I just think it's going to require commercial broadcasters who can push, promote, and provide an incentive to tune into these new frequencies.

 

[MarioMania]

In 2009, I wanted FM to expand to 76 MHz, I even made a thread about it

In 2022 Not going to happen now sadly

 

[R.D.P.]

Personally, I'm still against the idea of expanding the band. It would lead to many radio stations closing down, if forced to move. Concerning the LPFM thing, I still find these stations to be very impressive: WZAL-LP Alabaster, WPLX-LP Pelham and WLXY-LP in Chelsea. Love what they're doing and wish them all the best. I was impressed with WSMX-LP in Clanton but sadden by their sudden leave. Although my own LPFM radio station doesn't have an internet presence yet, that's fixing to change. Soon as my engineer can set up a Computer and help me sign in with Live 365, then I'm going to start streaming. Once the streaming thing signs on, then I'm going to get someone to help me do a Facebook page. I see LPFM doing well in those places where the ownership wants to make a go of their broadcast. Last time I was in Birmingham, all I heard on 93.3 FM was WFYN-LP. I didn't hear the other station that was sharing the spot. When I was listening, I heard mostly slow Gospel tunes and some Preaching. This station had a choppy signal, because of the mountains that surround the city.

Dan <><​

 

[R.D.P.]

It is true that in relatively flat terrain, and no cochannel or adjacent channel interference, LPFMs can be heard as far as 30 miles away or so in some cases.

Mine can be heard up to 33 miles, in certain directions, when the winds are blowing just right.

Dan <><

 

[Kelly A]

Personally, I'm still against the idea of expanding the band. It would lead to many radio stations closing down, if forced to move. Concerning the LPFM thing, I still find these stations to be very impressive: WZAL-LP Alabaster, WPLX-LP Pelham and WLXY-LP in Chelsea. Love what they're doing and wish them all the best. I was impressed with WSMX-LP in Clanton but sadden by their sudden leave. Although my own LPFM radio station doesn't have an internet presence yet, that's fixing to change. Soon as my engineer can set up a Computer and help me sign in with Live 365, then I'm going to start streaming. Once the streaming thing signs on, then I'm going to get someone to help me do a Facebook page. I see LPFM doing well in those places where the ownership wants to make a go of their broadcast. Last time I was in Birmingham, all I heard on 93.3 FM was WFYN-LP. I didn't hear the other station that was sharing the spot. When I was listening, I heard mostly slow Gospel tunes and some Preaching. This station had a choppy signal, because of the mountains that surround the city.​

Expanding the FM band means any station will be relegated to a deserted island for years, because only a teeny-tiny percentage of consumers would actually purchase a radio with expanded band. That, and we already have enough failed LPFM stations. Why on God's green earth would we want to set uninformed citizens up for failure, by allowing them to construct where nobody will listen?
Not to mention, more band congestion to make the FM broadcast band that much more trashed-sounding. Let's throw in more garbage-sounding radio stations to drive more listeners to streaming. What a great idea!

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