On 1/11/2012 9:11 PM, Brenda Ann wrote:

Ah, yes... yet another denial of service to rural users of the media,
just like HD(?*)TV has been. I guess if you don't live in a core city
area, you just don't count (sort of like if you're over 50).

Rural residents willingly give up certain services because the cost of
providing the services is prohibitive. No piped natural gas, often no
cable TV, often no sewers. There are workarounds at higher cost. For
radio there is satellite radio versus terrestrial radio.

Rural radio stations can provide digital service if they desire.

What's lost with digital AM is the ability to receive distant stations,
but that was never guaranteed to either the stations or the listeners.