[grc] The return of VOA programming to shortwave radio?

[Steve Pierce]

A blast from the shortwave passed:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRNO_(shortwave)



> On Mar 9, 2022, at 9:21 PM, Michelle Bradley via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:
> 
> Yes.. definitely WBCQ, WTTW, WRMI, etc. will sell airtime.
> 
> While shortwave is in Part 73, it is actually administrated out of the International Bureau.
> 
> I am not aware of any restrictions on language.  But yes, the rules do state that the service is not intended for a domestic audience.  When stations request their frequency hours from the FCC, they have to state which ITU zones they are wanting to target and on which bands.  They must target zones outside of the USA (this even means that Canada and Mexico can be target zones).
> 
> Also, stations operating Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) can operate at 10 kW.  There are folks trying get SW stations licensed for the use of sending instant stock trading data via HF radio to Europe using the DRM datastream.
> 
> The programming rules are not enforced.. trust me, there's a lot of programming that does not promote international goodwill and the other things mentioned in those rules.  Preppers, militias, extremist evangelists, anti-semites and the like.  Of course, if the Commission goes after stations, this can raise a huge first amendment issue.. a rabbit hole I don't see a Commission of either party majority wanting to go down.
> 
> Also, because of the fact that shortwave stations can't target domestic listeners, a shortwave station is not considered an attributable broadcast interest.  Yes, that even means that a shortwave licensee can also own an LPFM (and one does).
> 
> When I was at the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters convention in Elkhart, IN a few years ago, there was someone passing around the concept of allowing domestic shortwave service and with power levels of less than 50 kW.  I am very on the fence about this.
> 
> One thing I have pushed in the past is the ability to use the 11 meter shortwave band (25.6~26.1 MHz) for local domestic broadcasting using Digital Radio Mondiale as an extension of the LPFM service with a primary goal of trying to reach minority expat communities.   I have already written draft service rules.  11m DRM local broadcasting has been tested in Germany, Mexico and Brazil and the ITU has specific directives that endorse the use of a portion of the 11m band for domestic local broadcasting.
> 
> If anyone has any shortwave questions, they can send them towards my shop. This is a subject we handle.
> 
> 
> -- 
> *Michelle Bradley, CBT, KU3N*
> /Founder: REC Networks/
> +1 202 621-2355
> https://recnet.com
> facebook.com/recnet - Twitter: @michichan
> 
> 
> 
> On 3/9/2022 8:40 PM, Bennett Z. Kobb via grc wrote:
>> Anyone who wants to broadcast on shortwave will find plenty of airtime available on the commercial shortwave broadcast stations including WRMI, WINB, WBCQ, WTWW, WWRB to name a few. Most of their airtime is sold to evangelists, with a handful of alternative DJs.
>> 
>> The FCC prohibits construction and operation of shortwave stations intended for a domestic US audience, and a minimum 50 kW power -- big an expensive, in other words -- is required if you are broadcasting in AM. There are also restrictions on languages.
>> 
>> These are some of the WWII-era regulations which the FCC has never reviewed since they were established. The FCC thinks themselves are so innovative and deregulatory, but they have never re-examined these old restrictions which they still impose on stations.
>> 
>> They make no sense now, and anyone who has followed my work on this subject knows my colleagues and I have been trying various openings within FCC to get these and other old rules changed or lifted.
>> 
>> Not because we necessarily want to start shortwave stations -- though one of us does have a show on several SW stations. But we think anyone ought to be able to experiment and broadcast, much more cheaply, to Americans if they want to try.
>> 
>> This scene may finally change, however, now that trading entrepreneurs want shortwave and have been spending big to get into it. This is forcing the FCC to think about things it has long ignored. That was the focus of the report I previously linked.
>> 
>> Europe is way ahead of the US on this, as several countries have deregulated shortwave and allowed various private broadcast stations and a wide variety of programs.
>> 
>> Benn Kobb
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