FCC Plan to Let AM Stations Use FM at Night Controversial
ars technica, February 15, 2008
By Matthew Lasar
Almost everyone has signaled thumbs up on a Federal Communications Commission plan that would allow AM radio stations to duplicate their programming on FM translators. The formal comment period for the proceeding has concluded, but filings keep arriving. The latest came in on February 8th from Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), endorsing the remarks of his constituent, Richard Gelfman, owner of Chestertown AM oldies station WCTR, "The Town."
"We strongly urged the Federal Communications Commission to adopt new rules which would allow daytime only stations such as ourselves to better serve local communities by granting the right to use FM translators (or any other means) to operate at night," Gelfman wrote. "As a matter of fact, without this ability, I do not believe that daytime AM stations can continue to survive."
Over 200 comments have been filed in this proceeding, most of them in favor of the idea. But several media reform groups have raised questions about the proposal, especially its impact on communities that hope to build Low Power FM (LPFM) stations in their area.
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