Hi all, thought about posting this under regulations and law forum, but felt that forum is more part 15 related.
I have been doing a lot of research lately related to the "inititive" Notice the word and number "part" and "15" are no longer in the title.
In doing my research, I try to keep up to date on anything that might effect our usage of the part 15 radio service, whether it be AM, FM, SW or LW.
I have found a recent FCC proposal on line related to the licensed AM broadcast band and the "AM revitalization" proposals.
The current plan, will greatly effect "Class A" broadcasters and in an indirect or direct way might also effect part 15 AM stations as well.
It can not go without saying, that any proposal related to licensed stations in the AM broadcast band could either open more channels for part 15, or make a bigger mess of the AM broadcast band where part 15 can no longer co-exist in that band at all.
I am going to be providing a links to other websites where an article has been published for you to read and responses from others related to the original article.
Aside from that, I spend a lot of my time reading the opinions of other people who are members of various broadcast related Facebook pages and I also read any petitions on line as an education as to how other people write a petition and how well it is received by those who have read it. Purpose is, if I proof read a petition someone here has created, I'd like some idea as to what has worked in the past and what didn't. I also call it a free education in petition writing.
Aside from that, I would like you all to read the story posted below as well as any other documents I have linked you to, because like it or not any decision the FCC makes regarding licensed broadcast stations also has an effect on your hobby.
It also proves to us the current state of the AM broadcast band and where it is headed in the near future.
A wave of discontent over AM radio proposal
AM radio proposal has Class A broadcasters upset
http://swling.com/blog/2016/02/am-radio-proposal-has-class-a-broadcasters-upset/
Station WGY petition below:
http://www.wgy.com/features/save-am-radio-1919/
Bruce.
EVERYTHING being talked about by the FCC as band-aids to "re-vitalize AM" seem to me like they would do the opossite if implemented.
Reducing the historic status of "full channel" stations would be, in my opinion, de-constructing radio's most sucessful stations.
And what for? To make room for another batch of smaller stations of coarse but... why?
Pre-existing smaller stations are the ones who are failing now, so why make more of them?
Conspiracy theory time... the FCC may be intentionally bringing down the AM band by pretending to be fixing it.
But that idea just leads to a different "But why?"
Part 15 is frequency agile so we can simply dance around as big stations rise and fall.
If new AM stations are authorized to use the frequencies between 1600 and 1710, I'm not sure how that would impact Part 15ers. In small rural towns, maybe 1 new station would go on the air. I can't see 12 stations in the same area going on the air. That would leave a lot of space for Part 15ers. If the AM revitalization opens up frequencies up to 1600, I can see the squeeze on Part 15 hobbyists because of the increased noise, so maybe just stick to 1600 and above. I may be missing something here, so this was just a thought, may not have any merit.
Of course keep in mind who owns the most Class A stations in the US, including WGY.
It also doesn't take much to wipe out a part 15. 1600, 1620, 1640, 1660, 1680, and 1700 could all be licensed in a general area leaving the X-Band useless for part 15. The alternate, 1630 1650 1670 1690 could leave 1610 open only if there isn't also a 1590 nearby or a 1600.
The FCC also wants stations that have an expanded band and regular band license to turn in one or the other. Some stations do not like that. http://www.radioworld.com/article/expanded-band-owner-objects-to-am-surrender-plan/278222
When radio Disney was on 1560 I enjoyed the protections clear channel AM’s got at night. Now that family radio runs it, I really do not care about clear channel protections. 650 WSM is nice to listen to, but the online stream sounds so much better. If talk radio is the only thing on clear channel AM’s, and some of it is multi city syndicated, what is the point?
Does Canada have a say in class A protections for US listeners of their clear channel AM’s?
Morningdj Said:
If new AM stations are authorized to use the frequencies between 1600 and 1710, I'm not sure how that would impact Part 15ers.
MrBruce Said:
If you haven't already noticed and it will continue, there has been a recent increase in licensed broadcasters moving into the X-band.
As this continues, the X-band will eventually be filled in with licensed broadcasters, creating more noise that will make part 15 impossible to function in the only refuge we have left.
If you use AM for your station, I am sure you are currently avoiding the normal broadcast band, by utilizing the extended band.
That may not be possible either, as more and more higher class stations (A) (B) (C) or (D) take advantage of that band and now you're faced with the interference you tried to avoid by settling down in the X-band.
For station "class" references see link below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_American_broadcast_station_classes
Bruce.
The top of the medium wave band from about 1490 to 1700 works fine during the daylight for high powered stations, but after dark those signals start skipping very near to their towers and listeners only a few miles away can't get a solid signal.
We have two examples right here... 1490 is 1 kW fulltime but, only 7 miles away, after dark their signal disappears into a jumble of 1490 stations all over the country.
We have 1600 kHz fultime with 6 kW daytime and 3.5 kW nighttime, about 8-miles away... after dark it takes a dive into the scramble and despite their nighttime coverage map showing me in plumb center, it's not listenable at night.
My point is that licensed stations moving to the hi-band are not getting improvement to their nighttime coverage so why would they want to pay anybody to work at night on a station most people can't hear?
Part 15 X-band AM stations always get swamped at night at somewhere between 30 to 50-feet where the noise dominates. We need a nighttime power increase for part 15 AM.
I don't about that Carl, my AM still gets out atleast a half mile at night while staying on top. Then again I'm in the country and after the 1670s across the US flip to night mode 1670 becomes pretty quiet.
Okay, I am doing your homework for you.
I went to the audio division at FCC.gov and queried 1610KHz to 1700KHz in the USA territories to see how many already licensed or new AM broadcast stations occupy 1610KHz to 1700KHz.
Here is the result, have fun reading the results, Canadian and Mexican stations are also listed that effect the USA:
Edit: I corrected the frequency from 1600KHz to 1610KHz.
Bruce.
Mighty 1650 Retro Radio said: "Then again I'm in the country and after the 1670s across the US flip to night mode 1670 becomes pretty quiet."
I'm guessing that is what makes the difference. I'm in a metropolitan area of over 3.5 million people packed with AM and FM signals and loads of public service and government frequencies, i.e., cell towers, railroads, airport, gas and other utilities, over 100 police departments and their branch stations, fire, hospitals, military..
My spectrum analyzer is always jumping all over the place.