FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly at "FCC Experts Talk Radio"

Broadcasting in general, and radio in particular, are on everyone's mind at the Federal Communications Commission. Topics like pirate radio enforcement, AM revitalization, and other reforms to lighten regulatory burdens on the industry are finally on their way to receiving proper attention. As many of you know my my thoughts on the subject of private radio are pretty clear cut. I view the protection of licensed spectrum from harmful interference as one of the fundamental obligations of the FCC. Far from being cute, harmless, or even somehow useful, pirate radio represents an attack on the integrity of our airwaves.

Let me turn to the state of AM radio, and the FCC's efforts to revitalize the band. The good news is that the wait is almost over and the FCC is preparing to make some decisions; the band news -- and I am only referencing press reports because I am prohibited from sharing the contents of any circulating item -- is that not all of the previously proposed fixes are in play. If these reports are accurate, certain people at the FCC oppose an AM-only translator window through which AM stations could obtain translators to operate in the FM band.