{"id":40411,"date":"2019-10-31T07:31:10","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T11:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=40411"},"modified":"2019-10-31T07:31:10","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T11:31:10","slug":"fcc-to-consider-allowing-am-broadcasters-to-transition-to-digital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/fcc-to-consider-allowing-am-broadcasters-to-transition-to-digital\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC to consider allowing AM broadcasters to transition to digital"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: Radio World<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\n

All-Digital on the AM Band? The FCC Might Allow It Soon<\/h2>\n

AM radio station operators in the United States may soon have the option of switching their transmissions to all-digital.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a done deal; but the concept is about to take a step closer to reality, because the Federal Communications Commission will consider a proposal at its next meeting that would start a process. It will take comments on whether to allow AM band licensees to make the switch if they want.<\/p>\n

Ben Downs, VP\/GM of Bryan Broadcasting in Texas, petitioned the FCC in March to initiate a proceeding to authorize the all-digital mode of HD Radio.<\/p>\n

Allowing stations to use all-digital transmission is an idea that some broadcasters feel could give business-challenged AM stations in the United States new life or at least another option. Turning off their analog signals would mean that most existing receivers could no longer pick up that signal; but many AM broadcasters are currently heard on FM translator simulcasts now. And adding the all-digital AM option could open up new possibilities for them as the number of digital receivers in the marketplace continues to grow.<\/p>\n

[…]Chairman Ajit Pai described the proposal in a blog post Monday: \u201cJust as the FCC is trying to keep pace with changes in the market, so are AM radio operators, and the commission wants to give them as much flexibility as possible to compete in the digital age,\u201d Pai wrote.[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read the full article at Radio World.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Click here to read the proposal (PDF)<\/a> that will be discussed at the November FCC meeting.<\/p>\n

The Radio World article<\/a> mentions WWFD in Frederick, MD–a station that has been broadcasting AM digital for over a year. We posted a note about this last year<\/a> and I even included a short recording\/video with reception when traveling through the area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: Radio World) All-Digital on the AM Band? The FCC Might Allow It Soon AM radio station operators in the United States may soon have the option of switching their transmissions to all-digital. It\u2019s not a done deal; but the concept is about to take a step closer to reality, because the Federal Communications Commission […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,1114,6647,3],"tags":[4196,2220,1241,634,7167],"class_list":["post-40411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-digital-modes","category-hd-radio","category-news","tag-am-digital","tag-digital-radio","tag-fcc","tag-radio-world","tag-wwfd"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-avN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41503,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/radio-world-time-to-sound-off-to-the-fcc-about-using-all-digital-on-the-am-band\/","url_meta":{"origin":40411,"position":0},"title":"Radio World: Time to “sound off to the FCC about using all-digital on the AM band”","author":"Thomas","date":"January 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following note posted by Paul McClane at Radio World: For those who want to sound off to the FCC about using all-digital on the AM band \u2014 either \u201cfer it\u201d or \u201cagin it\u201d \u2014- the comment deadlines now are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg-1024x623.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg-1024x623.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/AM-Dial-Digital-Grundig-Mediumwave-MW-lg-1024x623.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36692,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/radio-world-bryan-broadcasting-asks-fcc-to-allow-all-digital-am\/","url_meta":{"origin":40411,"position":1},"title":"Radio World: Bryan Broadcasting Asks FCC to Allow All-Digital AM","author":"Thomas","date":"March 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Ulis K3LU) A prominent advocate for the AM band is petitioning the FCC to allow stations to use all-digital transmissions in the United States. Bryan Broadcasting Corp. on Monday filed a petition for rulemaking asking the commission to initiate a proceeding to authorize the MA3 all-digital\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40738,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/fcc-approves-am-stations-to-go-all-digital\/","url_meta":{"origin":40411,"position":2},"title":"FCC proposes allowing AM stations to go all-digital","author":"Thomas","date":"November 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio Insight) The FCC approved today the adoption of a rulemaking allowing AM stations to transition to all-digital operation. Hubbard Radio\u2019s \u201cThe Gamut\u201d 820 WWFD Frederick MD has been operating in all digital mode since July 16, 2018 in collaboration with HD Radio owner Xperi. The new rulemaking will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/WWFD-AM-HD-Sangean-HDR-14.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25458,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/fcc-to-legalize-cb-dxing-and-boost-frs-power\/","url_meta":{"origin":40411,"position":3},"title":"FCC to legalize CB DXing and boost FRS power","author":"Thomas","date":"May 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Southgate ARC) FCC to modernize Part 95 Regs - GMRS, FRS, CB The FCC is to legalize 27 MHz CB DXing and boost power of license exempt UHF FM Family Radio Service (equivalent of UK PMR 446) Under its new Chair Ajit Pai, the FCC is seeking to modernize\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "CB"","block_context":{"text":"CB","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/cb\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/preswashCB.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/preswashCB.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/preswashCB.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/preswashCB.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41711,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/am-revitalization-drm-consortium-asks-fcc-to-adopt-drm\/","url_meta":{"origin":40411,"position":4},"title":"AM Revitalization: DRM Consortium asks FCC to adopt DRM","author":"Thomas","date":"January 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan, who shares this editorial from Radio World that features edited comments filed with the FCC by the DRM Consortium. The following unedited letter was taken directly from the FCC comments database: (Source: FCC Filing [PDF]) In your document (FCC19-123) you rightly highlight the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DRM"","block_context":{"text":"DRM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/drm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DRM-Consortium-Filing.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38348,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/fcc-rm-11843-seeks-creation-of-a-new-8-meter-amateur-radio-allocation\/","url_meta":{"origin":40411,"position":5},"title":"FCC: RM-11843 seeks creation of a new 8-meter Amateur Radio allocation","author":"Thomas","date":"June 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post readers who have shared links to this petition for rulemaking--created by Michelle KU3N--to create a new 8-meter Amateur Radio allocation. I've included the author's notice about this proposal and also a news item from the ARRL below. First, however, just a quick\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-28-at-7.10.35-AM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-28-at-7.10.35-AM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-28-at-7.10.35-AM.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-28-at-7.10.35-AM.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40411\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}