NAB and others on a tear....to gobble up more spectrum.

Lately, the NAB, NPR and NABA are out to get all they can with a new set of FCC commissioners.

First, satellite receivers marketed by Sirius and XM began gathering complaints from Public Broadcasters (NPR) at the lower end of the FM band. Then according to "Radio World" the NABA joined the fray with their news release that these Part 15 intentional radiators were creating harmful interference when commuters couldn't hear their favorite "non-comm" radio stations because the "sat radios" would out capture ther car radios reception of the broadcast station. Most of the complaints were about Howard Stern talking about subjects with language that would make a trucker blush.

Lately, the NAB, NPR and NABA are out to get all they can with a new set of FCC commissioners.

First, satellite receivers marketed by Sirius and XM began gathering complaints from Public Broadcasters (NPR) at the lower end of the FM band. Then according to "Radio World" the NABA joined the fray with their news release that these Part 15 intentional radiators were creating harmful interference when commuters couldn't hear their favorite "non-comm" radio stations because the "sat radios" would out capture ther car radios reception of the broadcast station. Most of the complaints were about Howard Stern talking about subjects with language that would make a trucker blush.

Then of course, is the inception of HD AM and HD FM. HD AM is currently in a holding pattern due to a FCC moratorium on nightime use because of skywave interference. Once again, another effort to grab more spectrum for the big guys.

And here is the latest: 7/16/06

NAB Wants FM Translators for AM Stations

The NAB wants the commission to let AMs use FM translators.

The association filed a petition for rulemaking with the FCC "seeking permission for AM radio stations to license and/or use FM translators to retransmit their service as a fill-in service," it states in an association newsletter.

"Under NAB's proposal, no portion of the 60 dBu contour of the FM translator may exceed the lesser of either the 2 mV/m daytime contour of the AM station or a circle with its center at the AM transmitter site and a radius of 25 miles."

NAB told the FCC about technical challenges facing AMs due to interference from natural and man-made obstacles, "as well as from FCC rules that require AM stations to reduce power during nighttime hours in order to avoid interference from other AM signals located on the same frequency."

Granting the petition "would be consistent with FCC precedent in favor of improving AM radio service," the association said.

"We also demonstrated that NAB's petition is more reasonable and justified by current competitive circumstances than similar earlier requests that the FCC rejected or did not act upon. Finally, the petition describes the public service provided by local AM broadcasters and illustrates how granting NAB's petition would allow AM stations to continue, if not expand, their service to the public."

Now, if you have any questions about remaining with the status quo for Part 15, this should definitely steer your attention in the right direction. If these organizations have their way, you won't even have your little green acre to broadcast on.

It isn't just the NAB. This is a concerted political effort to protect commercial and non-commercial public service licenses. And even though, many of us enjoy the freedom of not having to perform to a certain technical level that a license would require, a license might be the only saving grace for low power coimmunity broadcasting or yardcasting.