LPAM Revisited

It was back to work this morning after having been out of the "office" a good deal last week.

I really like the LPAM proposal that Don Schellhardt has been working on so hard over the past few..days..weeks..and put into a final version for the FCC, which I believe he has filed by now. In addition, a group called Radio Ready To Grow (RRTG) has a separate petition to increase Part 15 station operation on the AM band from 100 milliwatts to 1 watt. It's important to note that these are separate petitions.

In the long run, Part 15 AM power increases from 100 mw to 1 watt probably isn't worth the time and effort it may take to get it passed by the FCC. One of the hurdles will be to differentiate between the Part 15 broadcasters and the car dealers(and other commercial enterprises) who want to create a "talking billboard" and really, not much else.

Overall, I like Don's petition far better. It would streamline the LPAM stations into a more standard, 10 watt, power level with an antenna height just under 50 feet (49.2 feet, or something in this neighborhood.) This is patterned after Travelers Information Stations (TIS).
Florida State University has a TIS on 530 kHz. I've picked it up 6 to 7 miles out from the University on numerous occasions.

I'd probably relaunch my little AM if the 10 watt, TIS-like LPAM's were allowed. But, it's harder to justify spending a couple thousand to build a 100mw, or even a 1-watt AM station
in my area. Heck, there are at least 4 full-power AM stations around here that have no audience. How would I do any better at such low levels?

I have the same question at 10 watts, but with a little bit better chance at actually being able to gather some listeners, I'd probably bite the bullet and go for it. By offering a community bulletin board, ag reports, tides and fishing reports, along with a music format targeted to the audience, I'd build it in a small town not too far from here. The key, I believe, is in researching the market, finding out what they need, and build the format around that answer.

I'll be interested in following any FCC action with these petitions.