New USA AMs on Can/Mex Frequencies?

[trusty]

Question: With an increasing number of AMs in Canada and Mexico going silent, are there plans for new AMs, or any AM in the USA, to expand on the Canada/Mexican clear channels - or any freq previously occupied by a Can/Mex AM??

 

[cd637299]

Unless some deal is reached, AFAIK they cannot. The vacated frequencies of the Canadian AMs are still protected....just in case someone *does* decide in the Canadian COL that they want to put up a new station.

Montreal's 690 & 940 have been protected since the frequencies were vacated....and, lo and behold, there *will* be new stations on the air on those frequencies again.

I do not know of any case where the FCC & CRTC has allowed a new U.S. AM station close to where a Canadian AM was vacated, nor has an existing station increased power/changed pattern to target the vacated area.

As to Mexico, I believe it is set up the same way....Mr. Eduardo might be able to shed some light. There could be a difference in the sense that Mexico doesn't *want* AM if they can phase out these stations, if I read Mr. E correctly.

cd

 

[davideduardo]

As to Mexico, I believe it is set up the same way....Mr. Eduardo might be able to shed some light. There could be a difference in the sense that Mexico doesn't *want* AM if they can phase out these stations, if I read Mr. E correctly.

Mexico's congress legislated that, since AM is no longer viable in most cases, to protect capital and jobs, as many AMs as possible will be moved to FM and the AM licenses cancelled. However, the major AM operations that would have been protected as class A or B clears back to NARBA are all, apparently, surviving.

In any case, the 1-A clears for Canada and Mexico belong to the nation, not just one location. So, for example, a US station on a Mexican clear must protect Mexico, not just the existing station. Mexico, in theory, could move the clear to another city as they own the channel. B's are a bit more complex... but still protected whether operating or not.

 

[w9wi]

The silent Canadian stations continue to be "notified" to the FCC through the normal diplomatic channels, just as if they still existed. On occasion, these operations are resurrected under new ownership -- for example, the 690/940 Montreal facilities Chris mentions.

(this includes not only the Class A stations which, as David says, belong to Canada and not to the specific station -- but also the Class B, C, and D operations. Not that there was ever more than a literal handful of Class D stations in Canada... to my recollection, today there's only one left)