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KGA 1510

I was in Washington State a couple weeks ago. While driving on US395 south of Ritzville and hearing at least three station's hash on 1510 reminded me of the realities of the AM band in the modern era.

The wave of AMs going dark, I've been expecting them to start anytime in the next 5-10 years. AM found a niche post-FM in talk and sports. Now with the noise floor, interference, competition from other platforms and expense to operate, when is it going to lead to the inevitable going dark?
 
It's starting, but very slowly. KEYG 1490 Grand Coulee turned their license in a week ago. I imagine by 2030, big 50KW stations will stay for emergency and rural purposes, and so will those 'hometown' type stations that rely on both AM and FM listeners. Think of KRVN Lexington NE, KFRM Salina, and other similar stations in the Midwest. There are farmers listening dozens of miles away from the transmitter because of the great ground conductivity.
But for a 1KW daytimer airing southern gospel music? Once the FCC (if they do) allows them to shut down the AM and keep the FM translator, they will turn off in droves like the 2009 analog TV shutoff.
 
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