"David Eduardo" wrote in message
. com...

::history lesson snipped::

Now that it is
proposed to continue the local over distant usage AND going to a
new
mode requires that everyone buy new receivers why not change the
band to
a frequency range that does not favor distant propagation?

And what frequencies would you use? And that would obsolete existing
radios,
which HD does not do.

No it wouldn't; you've stated yourself that there's
no movement to replace the analog streams with
digital, but rather it's an addition to the current
service.

What is the point of making a mess of the current AM band? The
status
quo could be maintained by giving the current AMBCB holders of
licenses
first dibs on the new band.

But, in the way the AM band is used today, it does not make as big a
mess as
everyone complains. I have seen several recent RW articles in which
skywave
is still defended as the reason why HD is not a good idea. These
experts do
not understand that, starting with the FCC in the 40's, skywave is
no longer
relevant.

There are all kinds of solutions out there. Former TV analog band
space
could be used for radio or as a sub channel on digital over the
air TV.

The TV band is going to be auctioned off for new technologies and
the FCC
plans to bring in billions. Giving licenses for new "AM swaps" in
Bemidji
will not come anywhere close to that, so it will not happen.

I'm still waiting on that one happening. There are still
plenty of people out there who haven't bought their
new digital TV yet, technological improvement or not.

No Congressman wants to be seen as blowing off a
big constituency like the elderly on a fixed income
who can't afford the new sets; Congress will keep
extending the deadline until enough old televisions
have died off to make it practical.

Aside from that, the way other prices have been rising
lately I don't think that people will be putting a digital
converter or a digital television at the top of their "to
purchase" list anytime soon.

--Mike L.