FM translators for AM?

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Also, this have never been done. If you do this, you are in untested uncharted
water.

This ruling came as a surprise brought on by the current economy. Let's see
what develops.

Just as the NPR crowd was encouraged by Washington a few years ago to find new ways to finance their operations with less and less Federal money coming their way, they were encouraged to push a little harder in stretching what had been assumed about restrictions on how they could secure funding at the local level.

There seems to be a fresh breeze blowing in the Democrat controlled Congress to give the LPFMs a little more leeway than was assumed in the past. So far it is mostly talk and posturing by certain members of Congress. In a few months we will know if it is "The Real Deal" or just more Washington hot-air rather than a fresh breeze.

One area I would look for Washington to tighten down on rather than loosen up, is in the area of LPFM stations generating more programming that is authentic, home grown and organic. Why would an LPFM EVER rebroadcast on a regular basis something an AM station was doing. Maybe a once a week interview program with the mayor or something of that type, but hour after hour of playing repeater? That would be a betrayal of the entire announced intention of LPFM.

The concept that may KILL the whole LPFM movement is this illegitimate concept that you can receive by satellite hours and hours of programming created 2,000 miles away, and if you store it on your hard drive for an hour and they have your automation machine harvest the programming from the hard drive, it is then considered "locally produced programming". I try not to think about that concept too often. It's a real drag cleaning the carpet after I barf over that one.

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

Here's something to think about. Suppose you own a mom & pop AM
in a small town in America. You are struggling to keep listeners with
Antique Modulation (AM). You are now also having trouble getting
advertising because your hands are tied with AM. You are trying to
serve your town, feed your family, and stay on the air.

Would it be fair for the FCC to doom your station by saying you can't
have FM? But, I can now come into your town and start an LPFM.
I don't think so. I think you should have a chance to survive. I can
go somewhere else, this is a big world.

As for the LPFM movement, three guys filed petitions. But, none of
them resemble what was passed. What does resemble what was passed
is a petition I filed in the 1980's. Here's from the FCC public notice in
the 1980's
From the FCC
In paragraph 29, Bruce Quinn petitions to allow the use of
class D stations operating on any FM channel. Licensing
would be based on spacing requirements only, not based on
allocations. These stations would operate on a
secondary basis, noncommercial only.

the FCC states, "We also invote comment on
authorizing increased program origination by FM translaotrs as
proposed by Craver, La Tour, Quinn and Jacoby. We observe that
to permit unlimited program origination has the potential to make
available more channels of radio programming in less rural areas
of the country. In these areas, program origination authority
may result in programming tailored to small audiences with
specialized tastes rather than to a least common denominator mass
audience. We seek comments on the value, need, and desirability
of expanding the FM translator authority to permit increased
program origination. Since the expected location of such
translators would affect listeners' options as well as competing
full-service stations, we request comments on the expected
location of such new translators. We also request information
regarding the extend to which the service provied by full-power
FM stations may not meet the public's needs or wants and how
expanded translator program origination might further the public
interest in this regard."

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

Noncommercial low power FM stations are not a new thing. In the 1960's
the FCC licenses many of these. By the 1980's many who could not or
would not upgrade to a full power station had already been moved into the
commercial part of the FM band.

The goal here was to get the FCC to issue new licenses so that colleges
and community groups could get on the air because the commission had
ceased licensing new low power FM's in the 1970's.

The LPFM stations on the air now operate as noncommercial and are
classified as a secondary service. Secondary classification was fine under the
old FCC policy. But, after 2000, full power commercial stations were changing
their community of license and kicking LPFM's off their frequency.

WIUX-LP in Bloomington, IN was the station that changed FCC policy again
on LPFM. They were the first to be financially compensated for displacement.
And, the FCC decided that full power FM will not be able to take an LPFM
off the air.

This AM on FM translators has opened a new door. Commercial LPFM.
This is fine on a case by case basis.

I have no problem if commercial LPFM is allowed in communities that
have no radio service. However, if I would start an LPFM that results
in the death of one mom & pop full power station, than I have done
disservice to that town.

The goal is to get new voices on the air, not to do someone in.

 

[willcail]

Re: FM translators for

As a volunteer at Columbus Ohio LPFM WCRS 102.1/98.3 We provide alternative voices that the cookie cutter NPR stations doesn't do.

The main issue with allowing AM broadcasting on FM translators it may result reduce coverge of LPFM stations. Resulting in less translators for LPFM's.

There are stations (the ones that are owned by CC) are using their HD FM sub-channels to broadcast CC owned AM "newstalk" stations in certian markets. Of course it depends if one have an HD radio.

The mom and pop AM stations I don't mind if they are an class C or class D AM stations. No class A stations, class B stations if they power down to 300 watts or below at night and nighttime only.

 

[Flying-Dutchman]

The rules need changed again. We need to go to contour protection
instead of mileage separation for LPFM. Any frequency that a translator
can operate on should be open for LPFM.

Also, translators should be able to convert to LPFM's where FM service
is lacking.

There is an AM station with a translator 25 miles from me. Having FM
saved them in a small town.