Editing AM broadcasting (section)

==AM band revitalization efforts in the United States==
The FM broadcast band was established in 1941 in the United States, and at the time some suggested that the AM band would soon be eliminated. In 1948 wide-band FM's inventor, [[Edwin Howard Armstrong|Edwin H. Armstrong]], predicted that "The broadcasters will set up FM stations which will parallel, carry the same program, as over their AM stations... eventually the day will come, of course, when we will no longer have to build receivers capable of receiving both types of transmission, and then the AM transmitters will disappear."<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015035872822&view=1up&seq=478 "Statement of Major Edwin H. Armstrong"] (January 15, 1948), "Restrictive union practices of the American Federation of Musicians", ''United States Congress, House Committee on Education and Labor'' (1948 hearings), pages 144-145.</ref> However, FM stations actually struggled for many decades, and it was not until 1978 that FM listenership surpassed that of AM stations. Since then the AM band's share of the audience has continued to decline.

===Fairness Doctrine repeal===
{{Also|Fairness Doctrine#Revocation}}

In 1987, the elimination of the [[Fairness Doctrine]] requirement meant that talk shows, which were commonly carried by AM stations, could adopt a more focused presentation on controversial topics, without the distraction of having to provide airtime for any contrasting opinions. In addition, satellite distribution made it possible for programs to be economically carried on a national scale. The introduction of nationwide talk shows, most prominently [[Rush Limbaugh]]'s beginning in 1988, was sometimes credited with "saving" AM radio.<ref>Scott Fybush. [https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20210217/ "Limbaugh Dead; What Next for Talk Radio?"] Fybush.com. February 17, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2024.</ref> However, these stations tended to attract older listeners who were of lesser interest to advertisers, and AM radio's audience share continued to erode.

===AM stereo and AMAX standards===
{{Main|AM stereo#Adoption in the United States|AMAX}}
[[File:AMAX radio receiver certification logo.gif|thumb|200px|right|Radios meeting the AMAX standards could display a certification logo, with the "stereo" notation reserved for those capable of AM stereo reception]]

In 1961, the FCC adopted a single standard for FM stereo transmissions, which was widely credited with enhancing FM's popularity. Developing the technology for AM broadcasting in stereo was challenging due to the need to limit the transmissions to a 20&nbsp;kHz bandwidth, while also making the transmissions backward compatible with existing non-stereo receivers.

In 1990, the FCC authorized an AM stereo standard developed by Magnavox, but two years later revised its decision to instead approve four competing implementations, saying it would "let the marketplace decide" which was best.<ref name="stereo"/> The lack of a common standard resulted in consumer confusion and increased the complexity and cost of producing AM stereo receivers.

In 1993, the FCC again revised its policy, by selecting [[C-QUAM]] as the sole AM stereo implementation. In 1993, the FCC also endorsed, although it did not make mandatory, [[AMAX]] broadcasting standards that were developed by the [[Electronic Industries Alliance|Electronic Industries Association]] (EIA) and the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] (NAB) with the intention of helping AM stations, especially ones with musical formats, become more competitive with FM broadcasters by promoting better quality receivers. However, the stereo AM and AMAX initiatives had little impact, and a 2015 review of these events concluded that

<blockquote>Initially the consumer manufacturers made a concerted attempt to specify performance of AM receivers through the 1993 AMAX standard, a joint effort of the EIA and the NAB, with FCC backing...  The FCC rapidly followed up on this with codification of the CQUAM AM stereo standard, also in 1993. At this point, the stage appeared to be set for rejuvenation of the AM band. Nevertheless, with the legacy of confusion and disappointment in the rollout of the multiple incompatible AM stereo systems, and failure of the manufacturers (including the auto makers) to effectively promote AMAX radios, coupled with the ever-increasing background of noise in the band, the general public soon lost interest and moved on to other media.<ref>[https://www.kintronic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/NAB-AM-Receiver-Paper.pdf "Smart AM Receivers for the 21st Century"] by Stephen F. Smith and Thomas F. King, ''Proceedings of the National Association of Broadcasters Engineering Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada'', April 12, 2015, pages 1-2.</ref></blockquote>

===Expanded band===
{{Main|AM expanded band#United States}}

On June 8, 1988, an [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU)-sponsored conference held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil adopted provisions, effective July 1, 1990, to extend the upper end of the Region 2 AM broadcast band, by adding ten frequencies which spanned from 1610&nbsp;kHz to 1700&nbsp;kHz.<ref>[http://handle.itu.int/11.1004/020.1000/4.118.43.en.100 ''Final Acts of the Regional Radio Conference to Establish a Plan for the Broadcasting Service in the Band 1605-1705 in Region 2''] (PDF) (Rio de Janeiro, 1988, ITU.int)</ref> At this time it was suggested that as many as 500 U.S. stations could be assigned to the new frequencies.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1988/BC-1988-05-23.pdf#page=55 "RIO is stage for AM spectrum conference"], ''Broadcasting'', May 23, 1988, pp. 55–56.</ref>

On April 12, 1990, the FCC voted to begin the process of populating the expanded band, with the main priority being the reduction of interference on the existing AM band, by transferring selected stations to the new frequencies. It was now estimated that the expanded band could accommodate around 300 U.S. stations.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-04-28.pdf#page=10 "FCC Votes To Proceed With AM-Band Improvement Plans"] by Bill Holland, ''Billboard'', April 28, 1990, page 10.</ref> However, it turned out that the number of possible station reassignments was much lower, with a 2006 accounting reporting that, out of 4,758 licensed U.S. AM stations, only 56 were now operating on the expanded band.<ref>[https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/life-on-expanded-band-is-pretty-good "Life on Expanded Band Is (Pretty) Good"] by Randy J. Stine, February 28, 2006 (radioworld.com)</ref> Moreover, despite an initial requirement that by the end of five years either the original station or its expanded band counterpart had to cease broadcasting,<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x004848309;view=1up;seq=268 "Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations"] (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.</ref> as of 2015 there were 25 cases where the original standard band station was still on the air, despite also operating as an expanded band station.

===HD radio===
{{Main|HD Radio}}
[[File:Hdradio-logo.svg|right|200px|thumb|alt=]]

HD Radio is a digital audio broadcasting method developed by [[iBiquity]]. In 2002 its "hybrid mode", which simultaneously transmits a standard analog signal as well as a digital one, was approved by the FCC for use by AM stations, initially only during daytime hours, due to concerns that during the night its wider bandwidth would cause unacceptable interference to stations on adjacent frequencies.<ref>{{cite news |first=TaNoah |last=Morgan |date=11 October 2002 |title=Digital radio approved by FCC |newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]] |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2002-10-11-0210110010-story.html}}</ref> In 2007 nighttime operation was also authorized.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Gutmann |date=23 August 2007 |title=HD Radio rules take effect |website=Radio+Television Business Report (RBR.com) |url=https://www.rbr.com/hd-radio-rules-take-effect-by-peter-gutmann/}}</ref>

The number of hybrid mode AM stations is not exactly known, because the FCC does not keep track of the stations employing the system, and some authorized stations have later turned it off. But as of 2020 the commission estimated that fewer than 250&nbsp;AM stations were transmitting hybrid mode signals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Proposed rule: All-digital AM broadcasting, revitalization of the AM radio service |date=25 November 2019 |periodical=[[The Federal Register]] |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/07/2019-27609/all-digital-am-broadcasting-revitalization-of-the-am-radio-service}}</ref> On October 27, 2020, the FCC voted to allow AM stations to eliminate their analog transmissions and convert to all-digital operation, with the requirement that stations making the change had to continue to make programming available over "at least one free over-the-air digital programming stream that is comparable to or better in audio quality than a standard analog broadcast".<ref>{{cite news |title=Final rule: All-digital AM broadcasting, revitalization of the AM radio service |date=3 December 2020 |periodical=[[The Federal Register]] |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/03/2020-25252/all-digital-am-broadcasting-revitalization-of-the-am-radio-service}}</ref>

===FM translator stations===
{{Main|Broadcast relay station#United States}}
[[File:WCHL 2017.png|thumb|200px|alt=right|Many U.S. AM stations no longer publicize their AM signals, instead promoting simulcasts by FM band translators and Internet streams.<ref>Logo for [[WCHL (AM)|WCHL]], 1360 AM in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, whose publicized signal is over FM translator W250BP at 97.9 MHz.</ref>]]

Despite the various actions, AM band audiences continued to contract, and the number of stations began to slowly decline. A 2009 FCC review reported that "The story of AM radio over the last 50 years has been a transition from being the dominant form of audio entertainment for all age groups to being almost non-existent to the youngest demographic groups. Among persons aged 12–24, AM accounts for only 4% of listening, while FM accounts for 96%. Among persons aged 25–34, AM accounts for only 9% of listening, while FM accounts for 91%. The median age of listeners to the AM band is 57 years old, a full generation older than the median age of FM listeners."<ref name="FCC auth">[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435081039638&view=1up&seq=874 "Report and Order: In the Matter of Amendment of Service and Eligibility Rules for FM Broadcast Translator Stations"] (MB Docket Mo. 07-172, RM-11338), June 29, 2009, pages 9642–9660.</ref>

In 2009, the FCC made a major regulatory change, when it adopted a policy allowing AM stations to simulcast over FM translator stations. Translators had previously been available only to FM broadcasters, in order to increase coverage in fringe areas. Their assignment for use by AM stations was intended to approximate the station's daytime coverage, which in cases where the stations reduced power at night, often resulted in expanded nighttime coverage. Although the translator stations are not permitted to originate programming when the "primary" AM station is broadcasting, they are permitted to do so during nighttime hours for AM stations licensed for daytime-only operation.<ref name="OK">[https://www.commlawblog.com/2009/06/articles/broadcast/fcc-oks-am-on-fm-translators/ "FCC OK's AM on FM Translators"] by FHH Law, June 30, 2009 (commlawblog.com).</ref>

Prior to the adoption of the new policy, as of March 18, 2009, the FCC had issued 215 Special Temporary Authority grants for FM translators relaying AM stations.<ref name="OK"/> After creation of the new policy, by 2011 there were approximately 500 in operation,<ref>[https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/uses-of-fm-translators-morph-quickly "Uses of FM Translators Morph Quickly"] by Randy J. Stine, August 3, 2011 (radioworld.com)</ref> and as of 2020 approximately 2,800 of the 4,570 licensed AM stations were rebroadcasting on one or more FM translators.<ref name="worry">[https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/special-report-am-advocates-watch-and-worry "Special Report: AM Advocates Watch and Worry"] by Randy J. Stine, October 5, 2020 (radioworld.com)</ref> In 2009 the FCC stated that "We do not intend to allow these cross-service translators to be used as surrogates for FM stations".<ref name="FCC auth"/> However, based on station slogans, especially in the case of recently adopted musical formats, in most cases the expectation is that listeners will primarily be tuning into the FM signal rather than the nominally "primary" AM station. A 2020 review noted that "for many owners, keeping their AM stations on the air now is pretty much just about retaining their FM translator footprint rather than keeping the AM on the air on its own merits".<ref name="worry"/>

===Additional activities===
In 2018 the FCC, led by then-Commission Chairman [[Ajit Pai]], proposed greatly reducing signal protection for 50&nbsp;kW Class A "[[Clear-channel station|clear channel]]" stations. This would allow co-channel secondary stations to operate with higher powers, especially at night. However, the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) expressed concerns that this would reduce the effectiveness of emergency communications.<ref>[https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/20/2018-25101/revitalization-of-the-am-radio-service "Proposed Rule: Revitalization of the AM Radio Service"], ''Federal Register'', November 20, 2018.</ref>

===Electric vehicles===
In May 2023, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the United States introduced legislation making it illegal for automakers to eliminate AM radio from their cars. The lawmakers argue that AM radio is an important tool for public safety due to being a component of the [[Emergency Alert System]] (EAS). Some automakers have been eliminating AM radio from their [[electric vehicles]] (EVs) due to interference from the [[Traction motor|electric motors]], but the lawmakers argue that this is a safety risk and that car owners should have access to AM radio regardless of the type of vehicle they drive. The proposed legislation would require all new vehicles to include AM radio at no additional charge, and it would also require automakers that have already eliminated AM radio to inform customers of alternatives.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muller
|first1=Joann |title=Scoop: Congress moves to preserve AM radio in cars |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/05/17/am-radio-congress-cars |publisher=Axios |date=17 May 2023 |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref>