It seems there is no end to the number of bad decisions that the Federal Communications Commission can make. First, there is the whole digital television power and money grab, with newly re-opened frequency allocation up to the highest bidder. Now, leaving common radio alone proves to be something that was just too much of a temptation for the people who inhabit the FCC offices.

The latest fiasco-in-waiting is a plan to allow AM stations not designated as clear channel to switch over to FM transmission at night. Since AM radio can be propagated over tremendous distances at night, the FCC limits the output power of most AM stations in the evening hours to cut down on interference. The FCC plan purports to alleviate the problem with lowered power at night.

The problems with the plan are not trivial. In areas like the one where I live, there are so many FM stations on the dial that no space is available for AM usage at night. The other problem is one of taste. These days, no one listens to AM anyway, outside of the extreme, rabid followers of the right-wing of politics. Since they have 12 hours to ingest the tripe and vitriolic garbage, another 12 is not really necessary. Perhaps these people could read a book, learn something, or actually spend time with their families, instead of spouting off about family values.

No matter what the reasoning, it should not be a decision made by the few strangers, insulated from reality of daily life, by the Washington pomposity and greed.

The electromagnetic spectrum is as much a natural resource and water, timer, or coal, and the use of them by this nation’s people no less a right, and how so used should be a truly common decision process.

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[tags] FCC, AM stations, FM stations, clear channel, citizen’s rights, common assets [/tags]