[BC] Interesting IBUZ article & WTWP

[Kevin Tekel]

Douglas B. Pritchett wrote:
> In addition, you have the simpletons who's solution to the whole 
> interference/noise floor issue is to elimnate all those "little 
> stations" that are clogging up the band.

I would not eliminate them, I would *upgrade* them to a new band, or
at least to FM.  Remember, the proliferation of wireless Internet,
as well as expanded satellite radio offerings when XM and Sirius
merge, are going to further eat away at the audience of terrestrial
radio.  That alone is going to open up new opportunities for AM and
FM stations to make changes and move to better signals.  However,
if you move your 500-watt AM signal to FM, the difference is that I
would not let the AM signal be re-sold.  Just like what Canada is
doing with their mass transition of stations from AM to FM, the
abandoned AM stations would go dark for good.

Your station may be one of many exceptions, but there is no question that
the AM band is clogged up with hundreds of useless stations with poor
signals and no worthwhile programming, like a 1000-watt AM simulcasting
the signal of a 50,000-watt FM station in the same city, or a station
broadcasting syndicated programming 24/7 with no local content except the
hourly ID and a few commercials.

If a station doesn't meet certain criteria in regards to "serving its
community", then it should be declassified to non-commercial, non-
religious status.  Even having a bunch of high school kids playing their
favorite CDs on the air for a few hours a day is better than having a
useless simulcast which no one listens to.  If we don't help keep AM and
FM radio a viable medium in terms of programming, then it will render
itself obsolete no matter what kind of technical improvements we try to
make to it!





 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Need Mail bonding?
Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.
http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091