Re: [IRCA] KXEL Petition

[Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>]

Even looking at the GY channels today, many are satellite fed without local
news - or much of any news for that matter.. As Les points out, the large
stations in large metros have the news coverage. Of the smaller local
stations, it's mostly those which are fulltime and are in a market where
there's very few stations. There, local radio isn't a lot different from
what those of us over a certain age can remember being much more prevalent.

I also agree that most of what's wrong with AM today is a result of prior
bad management by the FCC in response to the demands of large group station
owners have steadily increased the numbers of stations on all of the
channels, resulting not in more quality ( whether of the actual sound or of
the content ) but rather more interference. Raising the powers at night
from 250 to 1000 watts on the GY channels only increased mutual
interference because everybody got to increase.

AM has its limitations, but it also has strengths. Unfortunately nearly
everything the FCC has done with AM over the past 40 years has made AM less
viable. More is definitely not always better.

Russ Edmunds
15 mi NW Phila
Grid FN20id
<wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>

AM: Modified Sony ICF2010's (2) barefoot w/whip
FM: Yamaha T-80 & T-85, each w/ Conrad RDS Decoder;
Onkyo T-450RDS; Tecsun PL-310 ( 2);
modified Sony ICF2010 w/APS9B @ 15';
Grundig G8 w/whip; modified Sony ICF2010 w/whip


On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 4:23 PM, Les Rayburn <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Letâs say that you had a terrorist attack where a nuclear weapon was
> exploded in Chicago. (God forbid) Not only would the destruction be almost
> unimaginable, but the damage to our communications infrastructure would be
> widespread and severe.
>
> In cities as far away as LA, Miami, and New York, cellular communications
> networks would be overloaded with people trying to call loved ones, gossip
> about the attack, or just complain that their favorite show wasnât on
> because of all the news coverage. The EMP effects of the blast and damage
> to Internet backbones would cause widespread outages. Power outages across
> a lot the Midwest would be common.
>
> In this chaotic environment, the motto âKeep it Simple Stupidâ would
> prevail. Every vehicle in the Midwest, including those that might not be
> able to be moved would still have radiosâand a lot those radios would work.
> AM Radio, especially at night would be able to bring in vital information
> that would be lifesaving to survivors.
>
> In this fictional example, stations like KMOX or WSM would be critical
> conduits of news from outside the affected area.
>
> Here in the South, weâve seen first hand the impact of the conversion of
> television from analog to digital. During severe weather season, most of us
> here depend on television as our primary source of information regarding
> the weather. Without the benefit of portable, battery powered televisions,
> access to this vital information has been hard to come byâespecially in the
> wake of tornadoes such as the ones that hit Tuscaloosa in 2011.
>
> Hardest hit were the poor, who relied on over-the-air TV for this
> information, and digital TV doesnât work nearly as well.
>
> Analog isnât always âcrystal clearâ but in an environment where youâre
> seeking timely information, a snowy picture with lifesaving information is
> much better than no picture at all.
>
> Corporate owned and controlled radio has been virtually useless in severe
> weather coverage. Satellite fed programming, with virtually no local
> staffing. FM radio is a source of literally zero information during most
> local emergencies. Thatâs all thanks to deregulation and corporate greed.
>
> AM radioâs future may well depend on being local, community oriented, and
> staffed. The best examples in that regard are found at opposite ends of the
> spectrum. The Class A stations and the class C stations. They generally
> provide the best of local news, coverage, and staffed stations.
>
> Big, regional disasters are rareâthankfully. But they do happen. There is
> something to be said for keeping reliable communication outlets in place,
> even for just these black swan events. Amateur radio has proven itâs value
> time and again when more modern systems have failed.
>
> The same can be said for AM radioâespecially the clear channel stations at
> night.
>
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL
> EM63nf
>
> Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
>
> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop,
> Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
>
>
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