Editing AM broadcasting (section)

===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"/>