Corre nos EUA uma petição para transformar os repetidores de FM (que se destinam a «gerar» emissão em locais de fraca ou nula cobertura) em rádios de FM, com emissão própria.

A entidade patronal norte-americana, a NAB,- receosa da perda de quota com o aparecimento de novos players no mercado - já disse que não aceita:

«NAB Opposes Original Content On FM Translators
In a Friday afternoon filing with the FCC, the NAB argued against a proposal that would allow FM translator stations to originate programming. Currently, translator stations are licensed only to fill in gaps in full service stations' coverage areas, but a petition currently pending before the FCC proposes to amend that rule.

Noting that translators have been licensed only as a secondary service since 1970, the NAB says, "the balance between broadcast stations as a primary service and translators as a secondary service has ensured the viability of the overall broadcast system. A change in the program orientation rule would turn FM translators into radio stations. While we agree that promoting localism is a laudable goal, amending the FM translator rules is not the best approach to achieving that goal. The detriments of such a change would outweigh any benefits."»

RadioInk, 12/6/06, http://www.radioink.com/headlineentry.asp?hid=133912&pt=inkheadlines