Connoisseur Media and several allied broadcasters are calling on the FCC to modernize broadcast ownership rules, with a particular focus on the long-term survival of AM radio.
In a policy submission tied to the FCC’s ownership review, the group says AM broadcasters face unique technical and market obstacles that are not addressed by current regulations. These include declining listening levels, signal limitations in urban areas, increasing interference and the cost of maintaining aging transmission facilities.
The filing argues that ownership flexibility would allow operators to combine resources, share engineering support and better support local news and community programming on AM outlets. Connoisseur also points to the growing gap between digital audio competitors and regulated broadcasters, saying existing rules restrict the ability of radio operators to adapt to changing audience behavior.
The group urges the FCC to recognize AM radio as a particularly vulnerable service and to factor its economic realities into any ownership policy decisions.