Total posts : 45366
The problem with high power FMs (50 to 100KW) is that they simply can’t serve the public over such a large area. At one time, before the FM band became crowded, they may have served a purpose. As it is now, there is no lack of FM stations in the U.S. So in effect the high power stations monopolize frequencies that could be used for more lower power stations rather than few high powered ones. With the concentration of media control you can pick up essentially the same programming/music, etc. wherever you are without resorting to tuning to a high powered station. So from my point of view they no longer serve a purpose. As far as mobile receivers go satellite radio is becoming a preferred choice among listeners. One can’t help wonder if all of the hoopla over satellite radio modulators isn’t a fight against lost FM audiences rather than any concern about interference. In addition the result of large corporate ownership has stolen many local stations in smaller communities. These hijacked stations have applied for higher power only so they can locate their transmitters near a metropolitan area and still cover their city of license. This is a loss of a community station and due to the higher power, prevents other stations on the same or adjacent channels for some distance. It’s quite funny to hear some of these stations do their legal ID. They emphasize the city they want to be associated with and underplay their city of license. They have no interest whatsoever in programming for or from their city of license. In our area a high power hijacked station covered the severe weather hitting the metropolitan area. Once it was past there they went back to their canned music programming. Too bad. Their town of license was hit by a tornado and lives were lost. They covered the story the next day.
