The group, primarily Class C and Class D AM operators led by Press Communications President Robert McAllan, seeks greater flexibility, including permitting each AM station to acquire and move up to three translators from farther distances (potentially expanding from 250 to 500 miles), and making such opportunities permanent rather than limited to temporary filing windows.
The proposal does not involve creating new FM translator licenses but focuses on modifying rules for acquiring and relocating existing ones to rebroadcast AM programming more effectively within local areas.
According to Radio World, petitioners argue that FM translators have proven vital, saving hundreds of AM stations from going dark while boosting listenership, advertising revenue, and community engagement. They highlight intensifying challenges for the AM band, including rising noise floors, degrading receiver quality, limited nighttime service, and shifting digital marketplaces.
A reopened process would particularly aid small, often minority-owned or rural AM stations lacking resources for full-service FM licenses or digital upgrades.
The AM revitalization docket remains open at the FCC, despite recent closures of other dormant proceedings. Past windows in 2016 and 2017 allowed AMs to relocate translators on available frequencies for local rebroadcasting.
The coalition includes advocates like Bud Walters, Matthew Wesolowski, and Larry Fuss, known for supporting smaller AM broadcasters.