Move Am's to channels 5&6?

It’s a dramatic idea that would change infrastructure reaching back to the
 very roots of our industry.  A group made up primarily of broadcast
 consulting engineers proposes a new use for TV Channels 5 and 6 in the
 United States once their occupants migrate to digital. It recommends the
 reallocation of part of that spectrum for the use of the country’s AM
 stations.   The group, calling itself the Broadcast Maximization
Committee,
 recommends the conversion and migration of all AM stations over an
extended
 period of time and with digital transmissions only.   It also proposes
 relocating the LPFM service to a ****tion of this spectrum and expanding
the
 NCE service into the adjacent ****tion.   The group made its proposal in a
 filing to the FCC as part of the broadcast diversity proceeding (Docket
 07-294). Comments in that proceeding were due this week. Other
 organizations also have used the proceeding to discuss how the radio
 spectrum should be structured; but these comments are likely to draw new
 attention to the plight of AM stations and possible ways to help the
 occupants of the senior band.   Engineering Consultant John Mullaney, a
 proponent of using Channels 5 and 6 for radio, is part of BMC. Noting
that
 similar proposals to use that space for radio stations have been
dismissed
 by the commission as premature until the DTV transmission is done, the
 group says the time is ripe for this proposal.  Although LPFMs and NCE
 stations would benefit, AMs would gain the most, the group contends. The
 proposal would move virtually all AM stations to the new band.   The
 engineers lay out a plan under which all or most of the current AM
 occupants would move and parts of the existing band would be designated
for
 users like municipalities and LPAM stations.  “For clear-channel (Class
A)
 AM stations we are proposing that the FCC will increase existing
 protections on the AM band and possibly re-allocate the Class As that
stay
 in such a way that they will have enough protection from other AM
stations
 so that they can operate HD Radio day and night without creating
 interference,” BMC member Bert Goldman told Radio World.  “This reduction
 in AM noise will allow the remaining Class A stations to increase their
 daytime and nighttime interference-free service by removing all other AM
 stations.”  Each channel is anticipated to be structured in such a way
that
 the station may decide if they want greater robustness of signal (and
 greater coverage like in rural locations) or less robustness and up to
four
 program channels. BMC is not proposing a digital standard at this time. 
 BMC has also proposed a way to move the estimated 24 post-transition DTV
 stations out of Channels 5 and 6.  The proposal is signed by Mullaney,
 Goldman, Mark Lipp, Paul H. Reynolds, Joseph Davis, Clarence Beverage,
 Laura Mizrahi, Lee Reynolds and Alex Walsh. 	

Nuts and Bolts of BMC’s AM Migration Plan
8.01.2008
 Here are the nuts and bolts of the Broadcast Maximization Committee’s
 proposal <http://www.radioworld.com/pages/s.0100/t.14794.html>
to use old
 TV spectrum for a migration of AM stations.  Under the BMC plan, AMs
could
 transition to the Channel 5/6 spectrum (100 channels 77.0 to 86.9 MHz)
and
 operate in the digital mode. In this way, AMs “can solve the current
 digital problems they are experiencing, especially at night,” the group
 states in its proposal.   BMC is proposing to: Extend the FM band to
 include frequencies 76.1 to 87.7 MHz FM Expanded Band (EXB) with a 100
kHz
 channel spacing, creating 117 new channels. The first eight channels
(87.0
 to 87.7 MHz) would be reserved NCE channels since they are contiguous to
 the current NCE band. The next 100 channels (77.0 to 86.9 MHz) would be
 used to migrate AM stations to the proposed FM new EXB band channels,
where
 they would operate in digital mode. One channel on 76.9 MHz would be set
 aside for NOAA DHS use nationwide. The last eight channels (76.1 to 76.8
 MHz) would be for LPFM use. The vacated AM band (540 to 1700 kHz) would
 open up for multiple uses, including improved AM broadcast service or
other
 use. While the policies, standards and priorities for an AM migration
would
 need to be developed, BMC has offered a technical plan to show that its
 proposal is possible and to encourage further discussions.   “Above all,
AM
 stations can become competitive, financially viable and immediately have
 some hope for better days.”