The AM expanded band was created with hopes of easing interference amongst existing stations. The FCC allowed migrating stations to operate on dual frequencies for five years. This year is the deadline for most stations to decide which frequencies to keep and which to relinquish.
Some of these broadcasters, faced with surrendering one of their dual licences, are pushing a plan to allow current owners that qualify as small businesses to keep both licences or sell one instead of surrendering it.
The original intent of expanding the AM band, according to the FCC was to relieve congestion, not just to create more of the same. Over the years far too many stations have accumulated in the orginal 540-1600 kHz allocation, to the point that much of the band has simply become unusable. The FCC encouraged stations to move to the expanded portion, thus relieving some of the chaos in the original allocation. The intent of the 5-year dual frequency operation was to allow a transition to the expanded band, since many receivers at the time did not cover above 1600 kHz. But now, many of these stations want to renig on their original agreement and hold onto both frequencies.
Broadcast groups have now filed a petition to the FCC to waive its policy requiring the return of one of the two allotments.
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