Domestic SW broadcasting in the US is illegal!

The law has been on the books since the 1970s.

Better send in Sgt. Friday: "Just the facts m'am".

"http://CBC.am/" wrote in message
...
Domestic SW broadcasting in the US is illegal!

The law has been on the books since the 1970s.

"http://CBC.am/" wrote in message
...
Domestic SW broadcasting in the US is illegal!

The law has been on the books since the 1970s.





So what does the law say? And what happened in the 70s? I have the
impression that the SW broadcasters had to give up thier transmitters at the
start of WW2. These transmitters were used for propaganda broadcasts during
the war. After the war ended, the broadcasters were offered thier
transmitters back, but were prohibited from targeting the US. Those that
didn't take the transmitters back were paid by the government. Most of the
broadcasters took the money. Those transmitters were used to start up the
VOA.

That's my recollection from a few stories I may have heard or read or maybe
not. How much of that is correct? Anyway, I've been listening since about
1970, and I can't remember a time when there wasn't at least a couple of US
independent SW broadcasters with domestic content.

Frank Dresser

mAximo wrote:
"http://CBC.am/" writes:


Domestic SW broadcasting in the US is illegal!

The law has been on the books since the 1970s.


You've been taking lessons from Brian Denley, eh? You fail to cite any
relevant statute.

47CFR73.788: (note second sentence)

(a) A licensee of an international broadcast station shall render only
an international broadcast service which will reflect the culture of
this country and which will promote international goodwill,
understanding, and cooperation. Any program solely intended for and
directed to an audience in the continental United States does not meet
the requirements for this service.

47CFR73.701:

(a) International broadcasting stations. A broadcasting station
employing frequencies allocated to the broadcasting service between
5,950 and 26,100 kHz, the transmissions of which are intended to be
received directly by the general public in foreign countries. ...

(73.701 goes on to mention the existence of government-owned
international stations but that the FCC doesn't regulate them)

("International broadcast stations" are the only type defined as allowed
to use shortwave frequencies - there are no rules authorizing a
"domestic shortwave service", so any stations broadcasting between 1710
and 54 mHz must meet the definition of "international" stations.

I'm not sure whether the 5,950 kHz figure in 73.701 has been amended to
accomodate the tropical-band stations like WWCR, or if WWCR etc. has a
waiver to allow use of the lower frequency.)

(there is nothing in my copy of the rules to indicate when these
regulations were established. My *suspicion* is that they predate WWII,
as in the early days of radio, smaller domestic stations feared loss of
their network affiliations - and most of their audience - to
high-powered distant stations. (that's why WLW lost their 500kw permit)
Domestic shortwave would be a real nightmare to these small domestic
stations. )
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

Wow, very interesting. Sounds quite plausable.

Guess with one post I started two threads and counting....LOL.

mike


"Frank Dresser" wrote in message
...

So what does the law say? And what happened in the 70s? I have the
impression that the SW broadcasters had to give up thier transmitters at
the
start of WW2. These transmitters were used for propaganda broadcasts
during
the war. After the war ended, the broadcasters were offered thier
transmitters back, but were prohibited from targeting the US. Those that
didn't take the transmitters back were paid by the government. Most of
the
broadcasters took the money. Those transmitters were used to start up the
VOA.

That's my recollection from a few stories I may have heard or read or
maybe
not. How much of that is correct? Anyway, I've been listening since
about
1970, and I can't remember a time when there wasn't at least a couple of
US
independent SW broadcasters with domestic content.

Frank Dresser

"http://CBC.am/" wrote in message
...
Domestic SW broadcasting in the US is illegal!

The law has been on the books since the 1970s.





So what does the law say? And what happened in the 70s? I have the
impression that the SW broadcasters had to give up thier transmitters at the
start of WW2. These transmitters were used for propaganda broadcasts during
the war. After the war ended, the broadcasters were offered thier
transmitters back, but were prohibited from targeting the US. Those that
didn't take the transmitters back were paid by the government. Most of the
broadcasters took the money. Those transmitters were used to start up the
VOA.

That's my recollection from a few stories I may have heard or read or maybe
not. How much of that is correct? Anyway, I've been listening since about
1970, and I can't remember a time when there wasn't at least a couple of US
independent SW broadcasters with domestic content.

Frank Dresser


What kind of content did they broadcast in the 70s and 80s? Surely the
militia patriot guys hadn't come along yet, had they? Was it all just
religious back then?

--
Col. I.P. Yurin
Commissariat of Internal Security

Stakhanovite
Order of Lenin (1937)
Hero of Socialist Labor (1939)

"http://CBC.am/" wrote in message
...
Domestic SW broadcasting in the US is illegal!

The law has been on the books since the 1970s.

Actually, it goes much further back than that.

Behold, Doug Smith W9WI signaled from keyed 4-1000A filament:

I'm not sure whether the 5,950 kHz figure in 73.701 has been amended to
accomodate the tropical-band stations like WWCR, or if WWCR etc. has a
waiver to allow use of the lower frequency.)

It would make sense, especially in the west where the mountainous regions
would benefit from the larger groundwave coverage of the upper MW/lower SW
bands.


--
Gregg
*Perhaps it's useful, even if it can't be SPICE'd*
Visit the GeeK Zone - http://geek.scorpiorising.ca

"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message
...
Gregg wrote:
Behold, Doug Smith W9WI signaled from keyed 4-1000A filament:


I'm not sure whether the 5,950 kHz figure in 73.701 has been amended to
accomodate the tropical-band stations like WWCR, or if WWCR etc. has a
waiver to allow use of the lower frequency.)


It would make sense, especially in the west where the mountainous
regions
would benefit from the larger groundwave coverage of the upper MW/lower
SW
bands.

There's not much useful groundwave coverage much above the MW band - the
signals are "skipping" but at such low frequencies, the "skip zone"
disappears..

But that's really beyond the point. Yes, from a technical standpoint
the lower frequencies are useful for covering areas relatively close to
the transmitter. I would think, however, that you've got to be able to
show *some* useful coverage outside the U.S. before you can get a
frequency approved. Or maybe they ignore 73.788? (not impossible)

Remember, the prohibition of domestic SW came from the desire to protect the
US clear channels in the early 30's. The AM 50 kw stations were supposed to
offer extensive regional coverage, and SW was prohibited from competing with
them. (It had nothing to do with the war as far as I have researched)

Since clear channels essential don't exist, maybe the FCC does not care.

David Eduardo wrote:



Remember, the prohibition of domestic SW came from the desire to protect the
US clear channels in the early 30's. The AM 50 kw stations were supposed to
offer extensive regional coverage, and SW was prohibited from competing with
them. (It had nothing to do with the war as far as I have researched)

Since clear channels essential don't exist, maybe the FCC does not care.



I think as long as the programming carried by domestic SW stations
appeals to a small number of hobbyists and whackos, the FCC doesn't
care. If it actually started to cross over and appeal to substantial
market segments, they would tighten up a bit to protect the big guys.