HD subchannels

[Bob DeMattia]

*The political pressures brought to bear on the FCC and its predecessor
agencies over the years means that the original concept of a limited number
of stations serving the entire nation is long gone, replaced by the idea
that every area of the US should have at least one station serving the local
area.  I'd have to guess that these days it would be politically unfeasible
to reverse that policy.
*

I think it's also a practical issue as well as a political one.

The COL license applies much better to AM stations,
specially the 1kW / 5kW types.   There still are AMs
that focus on particular communities - such as WTAG,
WCAP, or WMRC come to mind.


Class B (or C) FM stations cover a fairly large area beyond the COL
 - for example 93.7, 99.5, 105.7.  If 93.7 were to focus its
programming on its Lawrence listeners, that would be ignoring
a very large part of its coverage area.


One might argue that it still makes sense for class A FMs.
Areas like Laconia or Rochester NH have class A's that serve
the local community.


-Bob


> Sid Schweiger
> IT Manager, Entercom New England
> 20 Guest St / 3d Floor
> Brighton MA  02135-2040
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