[BC] FCC Deletes digital report from today s meeting

[Robert Meuser]

It is not whether people listen to skywave it is the fact skywave 
exists. I for one do believe many people do listen when tuning around 
the band while driving. It is not that they chose skywave it is just 
they came across a strong signal with something they want to hear. FM 
listening is just not suitable for long distance driving. It just does 
not last long enough. The real value of satellite radio comes through in 
that environment.

The problem with skywave and digital is what it does to protected ground 
wave coverage. I have heard a local station ripped by screeching noise 
during critical hours from a station a few hundred miles away. Whether 
you are dealing with daytime stations or dealing with digital, you can 
avoid the effect of skywave propagation.

R


Bailey, Scott wrote:

>The average listener doesn't care about skywave.  In the US, skywave
>listening on AM is less than 1%. There is a group of people that care
>about skywave because it is a hobby to them to receive distant signals
>on the AM band. I monitor their list and they even admit their hobby is
>dying!
>
>If IBOC goes through, which I believe it will, then that's the end of AM
>skywave all together. I know many truck drivers that live in my area,
>and travel the country picking up and dropping off loads.  They listen
>to XM or Sirius. They have told me they hate the skywave of AM, don't
>listen to FM at all, but they enjoy the clear, crisp sound of Satellite
>Radio, plus they listen to all the overnight programming geared to
>truckers. Some have told me they have even turned off their CB radios
>because they find the Satellite Radio more informative than the nasty,
>offensive, 27 MHz band.
>
>Once again, looking outside to the average listening who works outside
>the broadcast industry or hobbyist, they could care less about
>AM...PERIOD! I read where WGN claims they have all these listeners at
>night outside Chicago. That's bull crap! When IBOC really kicks in at
>night, there won't be a sole to hear it outside Chicago anyway.
>
>Local content radio, with the exception of emergency situations, is just
>about gone!
>
>Scott
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