Why AM Stereo Hasn't Caught On, Like FM Stereo
by Eric Bueneman
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(This article was originally posted to the N0UIH and IRCA DX list servers.)

Recently, two St. Louis radio stations, KMOX-1120 and KFNS-590, discontinued all operations in AM Stereo. The lack of Stereo on their signals has greatly affected the sound quality of the stations. KMOX's sound quality is a little more distorted now, KFNS not quite as distorted (but distorted nonetheless). This has brought up a question: "Why has AM Stereo not caught on, like FM Stereo did 30 or 40 years ago?"

Part of the blame can be pointed at the Federal Communications Commission. When AM Stereo was operating with four incompatible systems (Kahn ISB, Harris, Magnavox and Motorola C-QUAM), the FCC made the wrong decision to "let the marketplace decide". The other major mistake made in the AM Stereo debate was made by Leonard Kahn, by filing legal action against his opponents in the AM Stereo wars. Those that operated with Harris and Magnavox AM Stereo soon converted to Motorola's C-QUAM system. Even Kahn's ISB AM Stereo system was selected to add Stereo sound to NDXE, the shortwave station in Opelika, Alabama, that was never built. Had the FCC taken the "hands on" approach, the whole AM Stereo question would have been settled in the 1980s, instead of 1993. The decision was made at that time to adopt Motorola's C-QUAM system over Kahn's ISB system. Waiting so long to settle the matter of an AM Stereo standard is why, in my honest opinion, AM Stereo has not caught on (despite it's fuller, better-quality sound, and, in many cases, larger signal coverage, than FM Stereo).

Consumer groups are also to blame for the lack of acceptance AM Stereo has received. In the early 1990s, there was a proposal on the table to require all AM/FM receivers capable of receiving FM Stereo to also receive AM Stereo broadcasts. These consumer groups didn't want this, because they believed such a requirement "would take away consumer rights". Instead, they took away the consumer's right to listen to the better-quality AM Stereo broadcasts. Isn't it about time that the FCC revisit the issue?

Availability of new AM Stereo receivers is another matter. While Chrysler (now DaimlerChrysler) had AM Stereo/FM Stereo receivers as standard equipment on ALL of it's North American-made models during the 1989 and 1990 model years, they have all but disappeared from dealer options on most North American-made cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Most of the AM Stereo receivers for the home market were also very expensive. Radio Shack had the only affordable AM Stereo tuner with it's TM-152, which was discontinued in the late 1980s. Now, there are no new AM Stereo radios being manufactured. Once again, the lack of a requirement that receivers capable of receiving FM Stereo also having to receive AM Stereo comes into play. If we had this requirement, then AM Stereo broadcasts would be more widespread than it is now, and more stations would be broadcasting in the fuller, richer sound of AM Stereo instead of the dull monaural sound.

The "hands off" approach to settling the AM Stereo matter was not very good for broadcasters or consumers, in my honest opinion. This approach is mainly to blame for AM Stereo's lack of acceptance in the marketplace. If you feel that AM Stereo has been given a bum rap, feel free to express your opinions on the AM Stereo Web site at http://www.amstereoradio.com/ or on your favorite AM E-mail list server.

If you feel that AM/FM receivers capable of FM Stereo should also be required to receive AM Stereo, write to your communications officials today.