Here is licensed radio's answer to local programming.
Of course, crap local radio programming is still crap.
Ok so I looked this up about Zone Casting and Maxx Casting and I don't quite understand but I seem to get from it that a commercial station can set up a local transmitter in given areas and for for 3 minutes an hour I assume in empty space on the band in that area to have localized ads or announcements specific to that area? Do I have the basic understanding of it? or not?
If that is what it is, and the FCC has approved it already, the question is what does this mean for part 15? I don't know as it seems the licensed station wants to be part 15 also.
Not good I don't think. If there's no little space now in major urban areas for part 15 there sure won't be now. The bright side is it's not on AM. But only for 3 minutes an hour? Do they then shut it off until the 3 minutes in the next hour?
WAIT!! I looked again and AI explained it to me. This will not affect part 15 as the commercial station just shuts off THEIR signal for 3 minutes to do this, not take up other empty space.
"Localized Content Insertion: When localized content (e.g., an ad for a specific neighborhood business, a micro-traffic report, or regional promotion) needs to air, the main signal is briefly muted in that specific zone, and the local booster transmits the unique content."
The zonecasting, though, allows licensed broadcasters to beam their signal to specific local areas, with local advertising. Kind of taking away the purpose of a Part 15 signal in that local area, except for the fact that most licensed programming is garbage.
It's kind of nice that the FCC sees the value in local programming, but pretty bad that they're rewarding licensed stations that were previously moving towards a santized, one type of programming for all, future.
I hadn't really been following it, but most recent news... Radio World last week (Dec. 5):
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/gbs-fm-booster-technology-now-in-11-markets
"The FCC’s rules for ZoneCasting technology became final January 2025. It allows broadcasters to originate programming on FM boosters, which is different from its primary signal, for up to three minutes per hour."
And at RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 2:39pm CT
https://news.radio-online.com/articles/n48266/GBS-Reports-Major-Growth-in-ZoneCasting-MaxxCasting
".. In the ex parte filing, submitted on December 4, GBS outlines rapid nationwide deployment over the past year. ZoneCasting and MaxxCasting systems are now operating in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Miami, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Las Vegas, San Jose, St. George UT, and Cumberland MD, with additional systems under construction in New York City, Atlanta, and other markets.
The company emphasized that these advancements required no new spectrum, instead using existing FM booster infrastructure to expand service and enable hyper-local content following the FCC's 2025 rule change permitting limited geotargeted programming. .."
They get 3 minutes per hour to use it (or not use it). I'm also a little confused how they inject different content for each specific area but keeping the primary broadcast uninterrupted. I mean I understand that the boosters are what's getting the signals to each target area, but how the seamless combine?
Anyway, I don't see it as a particular threat to our hobby, it's just targeted advertising or announcements for a max of 3 minutes an hour. Have no idea how it's done.