Somewhere today I read a news release regarding the NAB's (National Associatioon of Broadcasters) opposition to a petition to give LPFMs a boost from 100 Watts to 250 Watts, and I actually agree with it.
The NAB maintains that it's too soon to seek such an upgrade, given the fact that LPFMs are only now getting on the air and many of them are not yet on the air.
That's a reasonable argument on its surface, but I find fault with a reason given by the NAB for disagreeing with the increase in Wattage for LPFMs. The NAB asserts that the interference problems which may occur because of LPFMs have yet to be analyzed and before increasing the power of LPFMs a period of study needs to exist before the impact of power increase confounds the situation.
Shut up! Here's a truth check, kids...
First, the silly idea of "interference" brought up at the wrong time... The matter of interference was studied as a function of enabling the LPFM status in the first place and is now a done deal. But never mind that... it's a red herring anyway you slice it... intended to divert attention away from the real issue.
That being, MEMBERSHIP IN THE NAB! You see, LPFM's haven't yet stepped forward and paid their membership dues and are not required to do so, so the NAB needs to push them around a little bit until they wise up.
Once the LPFMs join the NAB, 250 Watts right under the christmas tree.
Yea but they will be told what they can and cant play. The reason to be LPFM will be moot.
The NAB are a bunch of hypocrites. They used that same B.S. to initially block the roll-out of LPFM. They have no problem with 250 watt translators to block LPFM availability. For example, WFLA in Tampa is operating a translator within the primary service area of their AM signal. What's the point? Well, its a Clear Channel station who opposed LPFM.
Good point, John WDCX. The translators in this market are log-jamming the entire dial with pointless simulcasts of lousy programming already available on stronger stations which the public ignores.
An FM radio has become a waste basket that can't be emptied.
WFLA's AM signal has no problem reaching Orlando Florida and the northern part of Florida. Why even have a Translator station on FM? Could it be because they know most people don't listen to AM Radio? And if their translator stations are 250 Watts and its considered Low Power FM to them I don't see why the FCC won't consider this. Remember again the NAB is Not the FCC though they think they are. Thank God we don't have these guys as FCC because everything would be even more screwed up. I don't think when Radio was invented for public broadcasting that it was only for the rich corporate greedy pigs like the NAB.
I really do think it's oversimplifying to say that people don't listen to AM radio anymore.
Numbers may have gone down for various reasons. But it certainly isn't because of availability, because virtually every radio manufactured has the AM band.
It's my opinion that the numbers have gone down because the programming on that band is crap. Virtually no music any more, and vacuous talk shows for the most part. It's almost a self-fullfilling prophecy.
What steaming radio, podcasts and other types of media have shown is that you can get listeners, no matter where you are, if you program what people actually want. Most stations on the AM band are proving that people just don't want to listen to that crap.
And even if you run a translator and put that programming on the FM band, it'll just be better sounding crap - but still crap.
Program what people want, and they'll come. Wait, where have I heard that before...
Yes, KRAP is on 1350 kHz AM, 500 Watts day, 84 Watts night, in Washington Missouri.
Oh, and KRAP's About page is a must read:
http://www.sportskrap.com/about-2/
Maybe they were think K Rap but came out krap lol. Back to topic. Yes I too believe they should have music again on AM. I remember traveling from Michigan to Florida at night I'd actually listen to WLAC (which was Rock at the time) because I could relax as a passenger and take a nap while listening for a few hours. By the time I woke up we were close enough to the station I'd be able to listen without fade. We'd leave at 4-5:30 PM and travel through the night to New Port Richie, FL. I'd listen to FM till say 1-2 in the morning. By then we were in the southern part of Ohio or Kentuckey. It would be great to have these stations back on AM, but due to Satellite Radio, Internet Radio I doubt it will happen. Back in the day it sure was useful that way and relaxing. I'd even remember stations out of Louisiana WLWL I think it was. My Dad would listen to Blue Grass on that station when we traveled sometimes. You could hear it from Lansing, Michigan through out our trip as well so we'd listen to WLAC for a while and turn to WLWL. There was a Rock station out of New Orleans too on AM but can't remember what it was then. Another big issue for AM is that manufacturers aren't putting the selectivity and sensitivity into AM Radio's anymore. If the FCC were to force the same sort of reception on the AM Radio's made now as you'd expect from a Radio made in 1972 you would have more AM listeners as well when most of it goes part 15. The hydro is another issue.
"Program what people want, and they'll come. Wait, where have I heard that before..."
Maybe ..maybe not....when I was going to a cottage every weekend at a certain resort north of Toronto I took my transmitter and set up my station there and mentioned it and to listen. The daughter of the owners(a little younger than me but not much), who had horses and spent a lot of time in the barn, had a radio there and had me on day and night, and looked forward to each week when I'd bring the station back. Once when I asked her if she would listen to me if I were to go on to AM she basically said no...even though my 50s and 60s oldies was what she wanted to hear, and flipped the band selector to AM and said "listen to how lousy this is, why would you go there"
So in this case ....if you build it, they may not come.
Mark
Its hard enough to convience is to Broadcast on AM not how are you gonna convience anyone to listen now that the band is usually all BUZZ and poor quality now. Its why unless the FM band is too crowded in your area I'd advise you to use FM. Its just that simple. I know it use to be good to be on AM and I had fun reading the stories on part15.us but we're not in the 1940-1972 time in space anymore. If we could only travel back we'd have something but truth is I just can't see getting any listeners. That said is why I'm pushing for this FM petition and we need folks who have a sound mind and passion for part 15 FM to make this thing fly.
Thelegacy, I would sign your petition.
Mark
I can't sign anything that I haven't read. Does the petition exist?
Also, I'm 98% sure there's a formal paperwork form for petitioning the FCC.
We would need to hire an FCC qualified attorney to show the way.
The FCC requires a well prepared study of what benefit would be served by a new form of service. "Good playlists" might not impress the FCC as a necessary service.
Listening to this talk, you'd think that AM is a barren wasteland, inhabited by buzz and noise only.
There are currently lots of AM stations and lots of listeners. Two of the top (PPM) 3 radio stations in Vancouver are AM stations - CBC AM (Canada's NPR) & CKNW (news/talk). So people go there. People listen.
I don't think that that daughter is representative of the overall population. I know that I'll go anywhere that I can listen to what I want to hear; it doesn't matter whether it's FM, AM, streaming or a podcast. On an analog radio, Internet radio, computer, smartphone or tablet.
I wave not written one. Part of the reason I joined the ALPB was that I was hoping someone would help construct a petition for higher power part 15 fm. I'm not an attorney and I'm not good at writing these things. But from what I gathered from the ALPB was that it was an organization that helps Micro broadcasting. At the meeting it was a project from what I understand. It could be a reason to get more members. You could easily get close to 100 based on FM alone. We may need the Album Rock preservation act and get die hard Rock musicians to join to make it a reality. Reason is that if we don't bring this back America will be musically deprived forever. im serious about this. Ear polution must have a place of sanctuary.
TheLegacy you are doing things right and never let yourself be slowed-down by people saying negative things, not even if that person is me. I say negative things for a reason... it is intended to stimulate thought and possibly share what little knowledge I might have about a subject.
And the ALPB is around to Improve Radio Broadcasting, it's all mentioned in the Official Charter at thealpb.com.
But so far the ALPB is not an activist organization that lobbies or petitions, but no subject is off limits for a serious discussion, and we can always appeal to the group to change the mission of the ALPB and get active trying to change things.
Part of our hesitation at this early stage is that we realize we are not specialists in going beyond what little we know, and we are not aware of how to approach the FCC to change rules.
A good thing is that we can study the whole problem and try to get smarter about it.
An "Album Rock Preservation Society" would make a good basis for a not-for-profit organization which could apply for a LPFM license in the next filing window, or seek to purchase an existing radio station.
All this stuff gets very complicated and takes a huge amount of time and money, and it's setup that way so lawyers can fill their banks with money.