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May 27th 05, 02:24 PM

wrote:
I was once told that it is illegal to broadcast a shortwave signal
with US as a target. (Not sure if that applied only to VOA or shortwave
in general) Is this true for non-government stations? (ham radio
the obvious exception, I'm talking about broadcast stations like
the BBC)

FCC regulation 73.701 defines an "International broadecasting" station
as one "...the transmissions of which are intended to be received
directly by the general public in foreign countries." Stations
licensed under this Subpart F are the only privately-owned stations
allowed to broadcast to the general public anywhere on shortwave.

So yes, it's illegal for privately-owned U.S.-based shortwave stations
to broadcast to the general public within the U.S..

However, a common tactic is to choose an official target area in Canada
or Mexico, such that the station must beam most of its power across
desirable areas of the U.S. to get to the border. For example, pick a
transmitter site near New Orleans. Pick the most effective frequency to
serve ITU Zone 9, the Canadian Maritimes. You can be pretty sure this
frequency will also deliver a heck of a signal to the New York and New
England areas...

FCC regulations don't apply to federal government-owned stations.
However, it is my understanding that an Act of Congress establishes a
similar prohibition against the Voice of America or other U.S.
government-owned stations broadcasting to a domestic audience. I can't
cite that law though.

Ham stations are not officially "broadcasting" - they are communicating
with specific other amateur stations, or attempting to establish such
communications. They're regulated under Part 97. There are other
shortwave services that aren't broadcasting to the general public, and
they too may communicate domestically.

None of this applies to stations outside the U.S.. The FCC cannot
prohibit Canada, or Britain, or Germany, or Iran, or any other country,
from broadcasting to the U.S.. And they don't try.

Why do there appear to be very few or no US based stations? (except religious
programming spilling all over the dial)?

There aren't enough listeners to make it financially viable.

People have tried. In my lifetime, WRNO New Orleans and KUSW Salt Lake
City have both tried commercial shortwave broadcasting. Neither station
succeeded - both are now religious outlets.
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

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