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WASHINGTON, DC—AM radio remains a vital component of America’s communications network, and AM broadcasters want to employ all-digital signals to ensure they remain connected to today’s audiences. Womble Bond Dickinson telecom attorneys John Garziglia and Gregg Skall are at the forefront of advocating for this important update for the AM industry.
Garziglia and Skall, working with a group of 25 AM broadcasters and with the California and Missouri Broadcasters Associations, filed comments in the FCC’s AM All-Digital Broadcasting Proceedings. Both sets of comments strongly encourage the FCC to give the green light to all-digital AM signals. Proponents say all-digital signals will give listeners a much clearer, higher quality signal than current analog broadcasts.
“With robust and consistent day and night signals that cover their market area and that have complementary FM translators for the analog audience, AM all-digital operations may accomplish bringing back radio listeners to AM, a feat not accomplished for decades,” they write in the Joint Comments. They ask that the proposed plan before the FCC be adopted no later than the end of 2020.
Click here to read “A Collection Of AM Licensees Want All-Digital OK” in Radio + Television Business Report. Also, click here to read “Small-Market Owners Caution Against ‘AM Stereo Situation’ With Digital” in Radio World.
John Garziglia represents radio and television broadcasters, offering personalized assistance in all areas of communications and telecommunications law including transactional and contract negotiations for broadcast station mergers and acquisitions, the securing of financing, governmental auctions of new frequencies, license renewals, new stations applications, facility changes, facility upgrades, licensing, and compliance with FCC rules, regulations and policies.
Gregg Skall represents broadcasters and other parties in their regulatory dealings before the Federal Communications Commission and in their commercial business dealings. He serves as Washington Counsel to several state broadcaster associations. He also works with telecommunications companies and with radio device manufacturers to obtain FCC approvals.
