The FCC Should Consider TV Channels 5 and 6 for Radio Broadcasting:
In today’s technology-savvy world, many people are turning to other sources for their music entertainment other than the radio, especially in the younger generation. For the most part, young people today listen to the majority of their music via YouTube, MySpace, Pandora, iTunes, Internet-only radio stations, or satellite radio. The biggest complaint for most people who don’t listen to the radio anymore is the lack of musical variety on the radio dial and repetitive playlists on some radio stations. Moreover, some people complain that radio companies have become so profit-driven and nationalized that they forget about the concerns of the community and their listeners.
Most of the complaints that many people have about today’s radio can be traced back to the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is the governmental body that issues licenses to media companies and regulates media in the United States. One of the provisions of this law was to eliminate the restrictions on the number of radio stations that one company can own in the United States. Immediately after this law was passed, some large radio companies like Clear Channel Communications took advantage of this law and brought many radio stations and consolidated with other smaller companies in order to create the large media conglomerate that it is today. [1] As a result, the number of locally-owned and minority station owners decreased markedly, the playlist on radio stations have become “homogenized”, and the amount of local news on radio stations has been reduced. [2]
Another reason why the FM band needs to be expanded is the lack of channels available for broadcasting in many markets. In Jacksonville, FL, for example, there is no more room for an all-new, full-power FM station because there are so many stations that are located within a 100 mile radius of the city. If a new, full-power radio station is built in Jacksonville, it would not be approved by the FCC because the station would cause prohibited interference to adjacent channels or to stations on the same channel.
On the other hand, FM radio stations providing a secondary service such as community-oriented low power stations and FM repeaters, which are stations that rebroadcast programming from another FM station or a local AM station, are not subject to the same rules in regards of spacing as full-powered stations. Because of the differences in rules between the two types of stations, these low-wattage FM low-power stations and FM translators are adding even more interference on the already overcrowded FM dial. The only way to relieve the congestion on the FM dial is to open up TV channels 5 and 6 to radio broadcasting. The reason why these TV channels should be used is because these channels are directly adjacent to the FM band, will open the airwaves up to new, independent broadcasters and minority groups, and will help struggling AM stations compete with FM stations.
TV Channels 5 and 6 (76-88 MHz) are Located Adjacent to the Current FM Band (88-108 MHz):
Because of the proximity of TV channels 5 and 6 to the current FM band, these channels are ideal for the expansion of the FM band. In fact, there are radios available in places like Japan where the FM band is different than the United States FM band, which begins at 76 MHz and ends at 90 MHz Since are many radios that are manufactured in Japan, some radios that are made in Japan can tune down to 76 MHz with the flip of an obscure switch on the back of the radio or with a software update. [3] After the TV digital transition that took place in June 2009, these channels are now vacant in many cities although there are few digital channels and analog low-power TV stations that are currently broadcasting on these channels. In fact, there are some TV stations on channel 6 that are essentially broadcasting as radio stations using the channel 6 audio signal broadcasting on 87.7 MHz, which is directly next to the current FM band and this frequency can be received on many radios. [4] One example of a low-power TV station on channel 6 broadcasting as a radio station is Smooth Jazz station WLFM-LP in Chicago, which is known as “Smooth Jazz 87.7 FM”. [5]
Expanding the FM Band Can Help to Diversify the Airwaves:
As a result of the media consolidation movement that took place after the 1996 Telecommunications Act became law, there are less radio stations owned by minorities and women than before. In fact, the number of minorities or women who own full-power radio stations has reached the lowest levels in years by 2007. Despite the fact women make up about 51 percent of the US population, they only own 6 percent of full-power radio stations nationwide. Moreover, Latinos, which make up about 15 percent of the population, own only 2.9 percent of all radio stations in the United States. Furthermore, the percentage of African-Americans that own a full-power radio station is also very small compared to their total percentage of the US population. As of 2007, African-Americans owned only 3.4 percent of the nation’s full-power radio stations although they make up 13 percent of the US population. [6] Also, Asians own just 1 percent of the full-power radio stations in the United States although they make up 4 percent of the US population. On the other hand, non-Hispanic Whites own 87.2 percent of all full-powered radio stations in the United States. [7] Expanding the FM band will give more opportunities for women and minorities to enter the radio industry in many markets, which will add more diverse perspectives and viewpoints that will enhance the overall quality of the radio industry as a whole.
Expanding the FM Band Will Help Struggling AM Radio Stations Better Compete with FM Stations:
The third reason why expanding the FM band will benefit the radio industry as a whole is that it will help those small AM stations that are having a difficult time staying afloat because of the inferior sound quality, electronic interference, and night time sky wave interference, which are some the major issues that plague the AM band. However, one of the groups advocating the expansion of the FM band into TV channels 5 and 6 is the Broadcast Maximization Committee (BMC), which is comprised of radio consulting engineers. The goals of the BMC is to help revolutionize the radio industry by encouraging the use of state-of-the-art digital transmission technology, expanding the FM band in order to help reduce overcrowding on the FM and AM bands, and by promoting diversity in the broadcast industry that encourages minority ownership of radio stations. In addition, the BMC also supports the improvement of AM radio service throughout the country. [8] Under the BMC plan, most lower-power and daytime-only AM radio stations will be located to certain designated frequencies on the new expanded FM band and they will broadcast in digital only. Those stations remaining on the AM band will have improved service, which will make the AM band more competitive in the long term. In summary, the BMC primary mission is to help AM radio “become more competitive, financially viable, and have some hope for better days”. [9]
[1] Special Report, “The Fallout of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Unintended Consequences and Lessons Learned”. Common Cause Education Fund (May 9, 2005). Retrieved February 9, 2011.
[3] Josh Lehan, “Opening Up Old Channels 5 and 6 for Radio”. Live Journal (September 5, 2010). Retrieved February 9, 2011.
[4] (Ibid)
[5] Author Unknown, “Shake Up on Chicago’s FM Dial”. Radio and Television Business Report (May 25, 2009). Retrieved February 9, 2011.
[6] S. Derek Turner, “Off the Dial: Female and Minority Ownership in the United States”. Prometheus Radio Project (June 2007). Retrieved February 10, 2011.
[7] (Ibid)
[8] Author Unknown, “About the Broadcast Maximization Committee”. BroadMax: The Official Website of the Broadcast Maximization Committee. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
[9] Author Unknown, “Nuts and Bolts of BMC’s AM Migration Plan”. Radio World (August 1, 2008). Retrieved February 10, 2011. http://www.radioworld.com/article/65188
Otha Melton - For nearly four years, I was a Research Assistant at Worldview Media, Inc. where I wrote reports and conducted Internet reasearch for the ...
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