Migrating the existing AM stations to former TV channels 5 and 6

This is one of the possibilities that has been bantered about as a solution for the “AM problem.” The theory goes as such; former TV channels 5 and 6 (76 – 88 MHz), which are not suitable for DTV would be an ideal place for the existing AM stations to move.  That represents a 12 MHz chunk of spectrum, which is much more than the current 1.16 MHz spectrum the current AM broadcasting service takes up (.54 to 1.7 Mhz).  An added benefit is that the VHF spectrum does not have the skywave “problem” that the MF spectrum does, thus many more stations could be licensed to the service.  Everyone would benefit, and AM stations would get a new lease on life in the FM band.  The number of stations would increase by several fold, including LPFM, non-commercial, and translators.  AM stations would no longer be burdened with expensive directional arrays or substandard audio quality.

It seems almost too good to be true…

The FCC reportedly promised “take a hard look” at this idea back in 2008.  Four years later, one wonders what has become of it.

A quick search of the existing TV stations licensed to channels 5 and 6 reveals the flaw in this theory.  The FCC has re-licensed many full powered and Low Powered DTV stations to channels 5 and 6 since 2008.

List of full power channel 5 stations:

Call SignServiceStatusCityStateFac IDERP (kw)HAAT (m)Licensee
WOI-DTDTLICAMESIA866113.9566CAPITAL COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, INC.
WGVKDTLICKALAMAZOOMI2478310169GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
WBKPDTLICCALUMETMI760016.4301LAKE SUPERIOR COMMUNITY BROADCASTING CORPORATION
KXLF-TVDTLICBUTTEMT3595910588KXLF COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KXGN-TVDTLICGLENDIVEMT242871152.4GLENDIVE BROADCASTING CORP.
KHAS-TVDTLICHASTINGSNE4800345217HOAK MEDIA OF NEBRASKA LICENSE, LLC
WLMBDTLICTOLEDOOH1707610155DOMINION BROADCASTING, INC.
KOBIDTLICMEDFORDOR82606.35823CALIFORNIA OREGON BROADCASTING, INC.
KIVV-TVDTLICLEADSD343489.2561KEVN, INC.
WTVFDTLICNASHVILLETN3650422425NEWSCHANNEL 5 NETWORK, LLC
WMC-TVDTLICMEMPHISTN1918434.5308WMC LICENSE SUBSIDIARY, LLC
KCWXDTLICFREDERICKSBURGTX2431623.7412CORRIDOR TELEVISION, L.L.P.
WCYB-TVDTLICBRISTOLVA245529.9743BLUESTONE LICENSE HOLDINGS INC.
WDTVDTLICWESTONWV7059210240WITHERS BROADCASTING COMPANY OF WEST VIRGINIA
WIWNDTLICFOND DU LACWI605719338WWAZ LICENSE, LLC

List of Low Power Channel 5 stations (analog):

Call SignServiceStatusCityStateFac IDERP (kw)HAAT (m)Licensee
KSCT-LPTXLICSITKAAK153480.0490DAN ETULAIN
K05KFTXLICDILLINGHAMAK7920.160ALASKA CORP OF SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
KRDN-LPTXLICREDDINGCA1271790.60KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
W05COTXLICSARASOTAFL6699530THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC.
W05CJTXLICKEY WESTFL1256420.590JAMES J. CHLADEK
DKHHB-LPTXLICHILOHI12623330KHHB, LLC
WIKY-LPTXLICEVANSVILLE, ETC.IN610360.140ROBERTS BROADCASTING COMPANY OF EVANSVILLE, IN, LLC
K05IVTXLICPARK RAPIDSMN553740.0190RED RIVER BROADCAST CO., LLC
W05BVTXLICSTARKVILLEMS216340.0660FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
K05LUTXLICJEFFERSON CITYMO1285200.110HISPANIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY NETWORK, INC.
K05LYTXLICMOBERLYMO1285600.10HISPANIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY NETWORK, INC.
KSXC-LPTXLICSOUTH SIOUX CITYNE12801230VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
K05KYTXLICLINCOLN CITYOR1291902.250MICHAEL MATTSON
K05KXTXLICTILLAMOOKOR1291940.650MICHAEL MATTSON
KRCW-LPTXLICPORTLANDOR351512.70TRIBUNE BROADCAST HOLDINGS, INC., DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION
K05LETXLICASTORIAOR1291612.50MICHAEL MATTSON
KJIB-LPTXLICCLEAR LAKE CITYTX211840.1030FAR EASTERN TELECASTERS
KLUF-LPTXLICLUFKINTX289370.0940INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING NETWORK
K05EFTXLICBRADY, ETC.TX100430.0680FOSTER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, INC.
KTXF-LPTXLICABILENETX1308400.6650KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

List of Low Power Channel 5 stations (digital)

Call SignServiceStatusCityStateFac IDERP (kw)HAAT (m)Licensee
K05FW-DLDLICGIRDWOODAK7960.0610ALASKA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
K05ET-DLDLICLIKELYCA82400.250CALIFORNIA OREGON BROADCASTING, INC.
K05CR-DLDLICHAYFORKCA681120.0070TRINITY COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
K05CF-DLDLICWEAVERVILLECA713810.0150WEAVERVILLE TRANSLATOR CO., INC.
K05FR-DLDLICCROWLEY LAKECA435120.060MONO COUNTY SERVICE AREA NO. 1
K05DQ-DLDLICBURNEY, ETC.CA83140.0450BLUESTONE LICENSE HOLDINGS INC.
K05LI-DLDLICWEBER CANYONCO1308820.00230SOUTHWEST COLORADO TV TRANSLATOR ASSOCIATION
K05GA-DLDLICDOLORESCO614700.00520SOUTHWEST COLORADO TV TRANSLATOR ASSOCIATION
K05JW-DLDLICISMAY CANYONCO614490.00240SOUTHWEST COLORADO TV TRANSLATOR ASSOCIATION
K05MD-DLDLICCRIPPLE CREEK, ETC.CO1678091.50TUCK PROPERTIES, INC. C/O LEE PELTZMAN
WRUF-LDLDLICGAINESVILLEFL42000.30BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
K05GL-DLDLICCOOLINID535160.0130PRIEST LAKE TRANSLATOR DISTRICT
K05EY-DLDLICTERRACE LAKESID231500.0650GARDEN VALLEY TRANSLATOR DISTRICT
K05BE-DLDLICLEHMI, ETCID587080.0130SALMON TV TRANSLATOR DISTRICT
W05DD-DLDLICST. FRANCISME396520.0970MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION
K05GM-DLDLICPLAINS-PARADISEMT527800.0170PLAINS-PARADISE TV DISTRICT
K05AH-DLDLICHOT SPRINGSMT276850.0050HOT SPRINGS TV DISTRICT
K05ML-DLDLICSULAMT1815780.0060SULA TV DISTRICT
K05IZ-DLDLICHINSDALEMT272590.00340HINSDALE TV CLUB
K05MW-DLDLICFERNDALEMT1825480.0240SWAN HILL TV DIST
K05FC-DLDLICLAKE MCDONALDMT167540.0050CANYON TV
K05KK-DLDLICPOPLARMT530120.0370POPLAR TV DISTRICT
K05JU-DLDLICELKONV194010.10ELKO TELEVISION DISTRICT
K05AF-DLDLICMINA/LUNINGNV427020.070MINERAL TELEVISION DISTRICT #1
W05AR-DLDLICBRYSON CITY, ETC.NC538960.0890WYFF HEARST TELEVISION INC.
WTVFLDLICNASHVILLETN3650430NEWSCHANNEL 5 NETWORK, LLC
K05AR-DLDLICROCKVILLEUT709620.0310BONNEVILLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
W05AW-DLDLICCHRISTIANSTEDVI702860.30VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC TV SYSTEM
W05AA-DLDLICROANOKEVA739890.0970WSET, INCORPORATED
K05MU-DLDLICLEAVENWORTHWA1875400.010LEAVENWORTH NON-PROFIT TV ASSOCIATION
KCEM-LDLDLICCHELAN BUTTEWA644550.0030APPLE VALLEY TV ASSOCIATION, INC

List of full power Channel 6 stations:

Call SignServiceStatusCityStateFac IDERP (kw)HAAT (m)Licensee
WUOADTLICTUSCALOOSAAL7749626395THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF AlABAMA
WEDYDTLICNEW HAVENCT135950.488CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING, INC.
WCES-TVDTLICWRENSGA239377.9429.4GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WABW-TVDTLICPELHAMGA2391710.5378.9GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
KBSD-DTDTLICENSIGNKS6641431216.8SUNFLOWER BROADCASTING, INC.
KTVM-TVDTLICBUTTEMT1806619.2591.3BLUESTONE LICENSE HOLDINGS INC.
KWNB-TVDTLICHAYES CENTERNE2116211.9221PAPPAS TELECASTING OF CENTRAL NEBRASKA, L.P.
WRGBDTLICSCHENECTADYNY7394230.2392WRGB LICENSEE, LLC
WPVI-TVDTLICPHILADELPHIAPA861634330ABC, INC.

List of  Low Power Channel 6 stations (analog):

Call SignServiceStatusCityStateFac IDERP (kw)HAAT (m)Licensee
K06LGTXLICCHUATHBALUKAK628270.0520STATE OF ALASKA
K06LPTXLICCIRCLE HOT SPRINGSAK625290.5480STATE OF ALASKA
KNIK-LPTXLICANCHORAGEAK214920.920FIREWEED COMMUNICATIONS LLC
K06MFTXLICKENAI, ETC.AK214901.440FIREWEED COMMUNICATIONS LLC
W06BHTXLICPHENIX CITY, ETC.AL252070.060GREENE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KNJO-LPTXLICHOLBROOKAZ1311620.4750KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KVFA-LPTXLICYUMAAZ1311440.050KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
K06MUTXLICBIG BEAR LAKECA6314910BEAR VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.
KNNN-LPTXLICREDDINGCA1292491.50VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KLOA-LPTXLICINYOKERN, ETC.CA2858330ROBERT D. ADELMAN
KCIO-LPTXLICVICTORVILLECA115290.990OBIDIA PORRAS
KRPE-LPTXLICBANNINGCA1296510.9990VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KUHD-LPTXLICVENTURACA679630.9990OBIDIA PORRAS
KBKF-LPTXLICSAN JOSECA1278820.60VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KEFM-LPTXLICSACRAMENTOCA12799630VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KXDP-LPTXLICDENVERCO6755230SYNCOM MEDIA GROUP, INC.
WHDY-LPTXLICPANAMA CITYFL13006310CONFESORA PERALTA
WEYS-LPTXLICMIAMIFL603530ALMAVISION HISPANIC NETWORK
WDDA-LPTXLICDALTONGA1311272.50WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.
KESU-LPTXLICHANAMAULUHI13100530CHANG BROADCASTING HAWAII, LLC
WKQX-LPTXLICCHICAGOIL12823930WLFM, LLC
W06BDTXLICPRINCETONIN492430.0140NORTH GIBSON SCHOOL CORPORATION
WDCO-LPTXLICSALISBURYMD13043910SIGNAL ABOVE LLC
WJMF-LPTXLICJACKSONMS2625320KID’S TELEVISION, LLC
KGHD-LPTXLICLAS VEGASNV13002730OBIDIA PORRAS
WMYH-LPTXLICELMIRANY1258190.250VISION COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
WXXW-LPTXLICBINGHAMTONNY1292240.0160JOHNSON BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.
WNYZ-LPTXLICNEW YORKNY5604330ISLAND BROADCASTING LLC
WMBO-LPTXLICWESTVALENY143190.30METRO TV, INC.
WNNY-LPTXLICAUBURNNY413641.450RENARD COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
WMTO-LPTXLICWANCHESENC1278020.60RAY H. LIVESAY
WLFM-LPTXLICCLEVELANDOH669930VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
K06NITXLICTHE DALLESOR1291530.250MICHAEL MATTSON
WRTN-LPTXLICALEXANDRIATN12585820RICHARD C & LISA A. GOETZ
WPGF-LPTXLICMEMPHISTN2384830GEORGE S. FLINN, JR.
KRGT-LPTXLICRIO GRANDE CITYTX579990.040CTV BROADCASTING, LLC
KFMP-LPTXLICLUBBOCKTX12973430VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KXIT-LPTXLICAMARILLOTX13008930GEORGE CHAMBERS
KBFW-LPTXLICARLINGTONTX12788730GERALD BENAVIDES
KZFW-LPTXLICDALLASTX531630DFW BROADCASTING, INC.
K06PBTXLICUVALDETX673030.990SUPER RADIO, INC.
WDCN-LPTXLICFAIRFAXVA2045030SIGNAL ABOVE LLC
K06OATXLICEAU CLAIREWI1291390.90MARCIA T. TURNER D/B/A TURNER ENTERPRISES

List of Low Power Channel 6 stations  (digital):

Call SignServiceStatusCityStateFac IDERP (kw)HAAT (m)Licensee
K06OR-DLDLICSEWARDAK1688660.30SEWARD MEDIA PARTNERS, LLC
K06AE-DLDLICPRESCOTTAZ352740.50MULTIMEDIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
K06HN-DLDLICGUNNISONCO256110.060GUNNISON COUNTY METROPOLITAN RECREATION DISCRICT
K06HU-DLDLICASPENCO567040.0060PITKIN COUNTY TRANSLATOR DEPARTMENT
K06GW-DLDLICNEW CASTLECO231590.0050ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC
K06NT-DLDLICDOLORESCO1308810.00520SOUTHWEST COLORADO TV TRANSLATOR ASSOCIATION
K06NG-DLDLICSARGENTSCO1269290.050GUNNISON COUNTY METROPOLITAN RECREATION DISCRICT
W06AY-DLDLICLEBANONKY704980.30GARY WHITE
K06FE-DLDLICMILES CITYMT357260.10MMM LICENSE II LLC
K06AA-DLDLICBROADUSMT531670.0880POWDER RIVER T.V. BOARD
K06AV-DLDLICWOLF POINTMT733760.0190WOLF POINT TV DISTRICT
K06NV-DLDLICWHITE SULPHUR SPRINGSMT217100.060MEAGHER COUNTY TELEVISION DISTRICT
K06JC-DLDLICCHADRONNE479770.0660NEBRASKA EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
K06KR-DLDLICCRAWFORDNE479910.0280NEBRASKA EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
K06PG-DLDLICLAUGHLINNV116870.30CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
K06KQ-DLDLICMANHATTANNV141260.020COUNTY OF NYE
K06MK-DLDLICELKONV193800.10ELKO TELEVISION DISTRICT
K06HT-DLDLICELYNV591290.0530WHITE PINE TELEVISION DISTRICT # 1
K06NY-DLDLICRYNDONNV1287500.0620ELKO TELEVISION DISTRICT
W06AJ-DLDLICFRANKLIN, ETC.NC538840.1930WYFF HEARST TELEVISION INC.
K06NS-DLDLICCHILOQUINOR82680.1930CALIFORNIA OREGON BROADCASTING, INC.
K06PM-DLDLICBEAUMONTTX1288360.30ROGER MILLS
K06JA-DLDLICCEDAR CANYONUT97120.0150CEDAR CANYON TV

Looking through this data, particularly the digital licenses which were granted since 2009, one an only assume that the FCC has, by de facto, nixed this idea if it ever considered it at all.

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8 thoughts on “Migrating the existing AM stations to former TV channels 5 and 6”

  1. When the F.C.C. wanted to implement digital T.V. it forced everyone to move. I counted about 143 T.V. stations in your list of existing channel 5 & 6 stations. So what you are telling me is that 4,754 A.M. stations must die so 143 T.V. stations survive?. How many jobs will go down with that?. How about splitting all of those extra T.V. channels that were granted to digital T.V. stations, which some of the T.V. stations don’t even use, to fit the 143 on channel 5 & 6 to save 4,754 A.M. stations, that makes more sense.The Ibiquity digital radio is not going anywhere on A.M. or even on F.M., in my market F.M. stations are renting translators to broadcast their secondary channels. Why buy a digital radio if you can pick it up on the radio you now have?. That is also killing the F.C.C. A.M. broadcasting on F.M. translator ruling because A.M. broadcasters have to compete with broadcasting conglomerates for a translator, good luck!.

  2. George, I agree with you regarding the HD Radio. Regarding TV channels 5 and 6; many of these stations moved back to those channels after the digital conversion took place. From a transmission perspective, it is very expensive to move to a different TV Channel. Often, a new transmitter, new antenna, new transmission line or wave guide needs to be installed. This can easily run in the $1M range. Are the TV stations on channel 5 and 6 to foot that bill again after only a few years?

    Also, because of the “white space” rules now in effect with the FCC, unused UHF TV channels can be used for wireless broadband service, which is a much greater priority than AM radio in the eyes of the current administration/FCC.

  3. It is looking like the 2015 Spectrum Grab is going to happen and all remaining TV will be compacted into channels 2-30, so channels 5-6 will not be an option. DRM in the 26 MHz region might be an option. Some years ago I seem to remember some discussion about proposed legislation where AM stations who voluntarily returned their licenses for cancellation would receive a tax certificate exempting them from paying federal tax on the subsequent sale of their real and personal property. Maybe it’s time to bring this idea back to life.

  4. @Spine, the plan was for the station to convert to FM and surrender their licenses for the AM (AKA Standard Broadcast) band.

  5. The problem lies with two issues.

    1)Some of the VHF assignments (not many) are just about the only allotment a station can use without going to some directional pattern. (Ask WPVI-DT in Philly)

    2)The FCC would actually like to see TV broadcasting go away. Look at how quickly they want to buy our spectrum. Spectrum financial growth has grown faster than the price of gold.

    It is very clear to me that the FCC’s mission these days has very little to do with broadcasting…

  6. My worry is white space use will overload a TV antenna amp.
    Many people use amps to get TV and a close transmitter could
    overload these amps. With DTV the TV will just blank out saying no signal.
    They will have no idea that a close transmitter is the cause.

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