Clear channel
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- For information on the company named Clear Channel, see Clear Channel Communications.
Clear channel stations are AM radio stations that are designated as such so that only one or two 50,000 watt powerhouses operate at night on each designated frequency, covering a wide area via sky wave propagation. Non-clear channel stations transmitting on these frequencies are (or were) required to shut down at night, leading them to be known as daytimers. In North America, some frequencies were designated by the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) (to which the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are signatory) as clear channels. These are considered by the FCC and CRTC to be class A (formerly class 1-A or I-A) stations. Daytimers are in class D.
For the U.S., clear channels first appeared in 1922 when the Commerce Department moved stations which had all used two frequencies (one for entertainment stations, one for news) onto 52 frequencies. Two were used for all low-power stations and the large stations each got their own frequency. A few frequencies were used on both the East and West Coast, which were considered far enough apart to limit interference. At this time large stations were limited to 1000 watts. Later in 1928, the AM band was reorganized with local, regional and clear channels (and a few reserved for Canada) by the new Federal Radio Commission. Gradually maximum power was increased to 50,000 watts. This system was continued in the 1941 NARBA system although almost all stations shifted broadcast frequencies.
Recently however, the FCC has authorized nighttime operation by lower-powered stations on these frequencies, thus limiting the non-interference range of the primary licensees. Stations are still required to reduce power or reconfigure their transmitters at night. Regional class stations have been allowed to increase their power to the same 50,000 watts as clear channel stations. In 1987 the rules were changed so that no new stations would have daytime-only licenses.
Clear Channel Communications, a San Antonio, Texas-based company which owns a large number of U.S. radio stations, was originally formed to purchase one of these stations, WOAI; the company now owns more than a dozen.
Clear channels in North America
The following two tables show all of the class-A stations in North America. Stations in Alaska are shown separately due to their unique status.
Note 1: WOWO was previously a class-A station and is called out in the treaties as such. However, in the 1990s WOWO was downgraded to a class B allotment by reducing its night power to 9.8 kW, and thus no longer has a secondary service area.
Note 2: CHUC applied for and was granted 1580 at Cobourg, Ontario with 10 kW, but chose instead to move to FM. This channel was originally allocated to CBJ in Chicoutimi, Quebec. CHUC is notified to the U.S. as an existing station on 1580.
See also
External links
- AM Station Classes - Clear, Regional, and Local Channels (http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amclasses.html) (FCC Website)
- Big USA, Mexico, and Canadian AM radio stations (http://www.ac6v.com/clearam.htm)