Statement of FCC Commissioner Clyburn on AM Revitalization Proceeding

The tone and substance of the discussions surrounding the AM Revitalization Window item proposed during my tenure as interim chair are both incendiary and misleading.

I believed then – as I do today – that AM radio plays a significant role in our media landscape, contributing to the diversity of voices and ownership that are vital to the functioning of our economy and our democracy. At that time, I expressed appreciation – as I do again now – for the support of an AM station in South Carolina that helped to buoy my professional career. At that time, I acknowledged the challenges, notably interference with station signals and standards, related to community coverage that made it difficult for station owners to survive and thrive. And at that time, I acknowledged the steps that the FCC had taken during my tenure to provide relief to AM broadcasters, including our efforts designed to increase the number of FM translators by more than 25%. Today, I am proud that these efforts have seen some success. While I remain convinced that opening an AM only window for broadcasters to receive one new FM translator is sound policy, revisiting this proposal closer to the time of the Incentive Auction, would make this relief effective. I carefully considered Chairman Wheeler’s proposal to provide immediate relief to AM broadcasters through a 250 mile waiver, and believe that it would increase the availability of translators for AM broadcasters.