Pai: "This is a great day for AM Radio"

[Radio Ink Buzz Stream]

He's been the driving force behind making the AM Radio band more tolerable to listen to. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai likes to reminisce about the old days of radio and his childhood memories of listening to sports on KLKC-AM in Parsons, Kansas. That was crystal clear music to the ears of many AM broadcasters who have been struggling to stay afloat as consumers move to any other static-free listening device. Pai made a commitment to AM broadcasters to revitalize the band and, true to his word, the commission put that plan into motion on Thursday by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Here's what Pai had to say about it.

More...

 

[TheBigA]

I hate to say this, but perhaps Commissioner Pai doesn't understand the practicality of this. What happened here is just the beginning. I think it's very presumptive to say it's a "great day" until actual rules are issued. Then we look at the rules, and see if they mean anything. While it may be a great day to start the process, considering it comes after over 20 years of inaction, and some might say negative action, it's still not action. As we've seen with Congress, discussion is a long and ugly process. There will be some who will want to turn back time. There will be those who will want to come up with equally impractical ideas, such as giving AM broadcasters space in a new part of the spectrum. There will be those who will point out that there's no more room for FM translators in the larger markets. The translator train left the station a long time ago, and it's not really a solution, but an admission of defeat. It's possible that by the time the FCC moves from proposal to actual rules, it will be too late. That's hardly a great day for AM radio.

 

[BigJimmy]

Its laughable. Trying to save AM radio in the USA while other nations are phasing out AM.
Need I say more ?

 

[BigJimmy]

did the NAB or others engage in lobbying to save AM radio or is it a pipe dream of some FCC
members ?

 

[Tom Wells]

I see no intentions to require manufacturers to comply with FCC rules.
We already have 40 years' worth of noisemaking junk to deal with.
When the FCC impounds a shipment of filthy switching power supplies, or games, or compact flourescents, I'll beleive something has changed.

I can't understand why the FCC doesn't simply order the US Customs department to reject imported non-compliant devices.

Putting AM stations on FM and calling it "help" is like "helping" someone to become a different sexual orientation or religion.

 

[kenglish]

I just added my own comment to the story.
Tom, I have to agree...the FCC should make e-bay and the other similar sites start rejecting ads for the cheap junk switch-mode power supplies, battery chargers, illegal transmitters, etc. E-bay already has filters on their ads for some products. They just need some "encouragement" to stop the junk that ruins our industry and hobbies.