Indecency and the media

[centerfreqradio]

What is the rules for shortwave radio stations that broadcast out from the states. Like WWCR and others.....Do they apply under the same rules as regular stations...

 

[Kelly A]

What is the rules for shortwave radio stations that broadcast out from the states. Like WWCR and others.....Do they apply under the same rules as regular stations...

WWCR is a SW station licensed to the US. All the same rules as any US licensed station would apply.

 

[b-turner]

It seems that at one point I heard domestic shortwave stations were not intended to target domestic audiences. I thought that was rather strange and often wondered if that was factual.

 

[davideduardo]

It seems that at one point I heard domestic shortwave stations were not intended to target domestic audiences. I thought that was rather strange and often wondered if that was factual.

Yes. Private shortwave stations in the US had to direct their signals and programming outside the US.

The FCC restricted AM stations to just 50 kw to avoid national coverage and to promote local service by radio stations.

Today, since nobody really cares about short wave, there are several US stations that are actively trying to get domestic audience, but most are religious or just freaky.

 

[kf4rca]

WTWW (5085) Lebanon TN. seems to have become an oldies station. They run spots for ham related equipment and suppliers.
I have never heard a domestic SW station run an EAS test though.
BUT American oldies does have an audience outside of America. I once worked with a Jamaican who said he grew up on listening to WLS, and WABC. He didn't care for the local island music at all.

 

[Kelly A]

It seems that at one point I heard domestic shortwave stations were not intended to target domestic audiences. I thought that was rather strange and often wondered if that was factual.

This was a leftover from the old Smith Mundt Act, which was modified in 2012: https://archives.cjr.org/behind_the_news/smith-mundt_modernization_pass.php
Original Smith Mundt act was to prevent US citizens from being exposed to what amounts to propaganda generated by the US Government to foreign listeners. Organizations like VOA, were prohibited from promoting their SW stations within the confines of the United States.

Now that we have the Public Internet, the Act was modified to better keep up with modern times.

From a technical standpoint, if the SW station is licensed in the US, it must comply with FCC rules even though programmed to countries outside the US borders. Remember, the FCC does not regulate programming.

 

[davideduardo]

WTWW (5085) Lebanon TN. seems to have become an oldies station. They run spots for ham related equipment and suppliers.
I have never heard a domestic SW station run an EAS test though.
BUT American oldies does have an audience outside of America. I once worked with a Jamaican who said he grew up on listening to WLS, and WABC. He didn't care for the local island music at all.

It's not "American" oldies but "English language" oldies.

And nearly everywhere in Latin America there is some kind of station, nearly always on FM, playing the local preference for "oldies" or "classic hits" in English. The lists are very different in some cases from US playlists, as some big US and UK hits never impacted in Latin America... things like Credence Clearwater Revival being more popular than the Beatles in some nations.

The real issue is that radios with Short Wave are not commonly sold throughout the region. While SW was common 50 to 60 years ago, very few stations are left in Latin America and the Caribbean, and receivers are a specialty item. In most nations, AM is pretty much gone... only a couple in all of the Lesser Antilles, none in Jamaica, and highly declining numbers in Central and South America. Mexico has eliminated about 3/4 of all its AM stations now.

 

[semoochie]

It's not "American" oldies but "English language" oldies.

And nearly everywhere in Latin America there is some kind of station, nearly always on FM, playing the local preference for "oldies" or "classic hits" in English. The lists are very different in some cases from US playlists, as some big US and UK hits never impacted in Latin America... things like Credence Clearwater Revival being more popular than the Beatles in some nations.

The real issue is that radios with Short Wave are not commonly sold throughout the region. While SW was common 50 to 60 years ago, very few stations are left in Latin America and the Caribbean, and receivers are a specialty item. In most nations, AM is pretty much gone... only a couple in all of the Lesser Antilles, none in Jamaica, and highly declining numbers in Central and South America. Mexico has eliminated about 3/4 of all its AM stations now.

I remember once noting that there were 30 AM stations licensed to Mexico City! In order to do that, they placed them 30KHz apart and 20KHz on the low end of the dial. I don't think there were any FMs yet.