Translators for AM: Why not just turn the AM off?

[seattlefollower]

Here is the lowdown from today's Taylor on Radio-info. My question is: If these FM "translators" are providing such good fill in for poor AM signals, why not just re-license the stations to FM and start phasing out AM, frankly. My understanding is, this is what is occurring in Canada.

AM stations finally get a black-and-white policy about using FM translators.

The staff’s been handing these out, case-by-case, but it’s now got a written policy about just when an AM can use a translator to fill in its coverage area. Some highlights from the Report & Order – AMs may use “currently authorized FM translator stations” (those licensed as of May 1) to “re-broadcast their signals, provided that no portion of the 60 dBu contour extends beyond the smaller of: (a) a 25-mile radius from the AM transmitter site; or (b) the 2mV/m daytime contour of the AM station.” Daytimers can originate programming on translators after the AM station must sign off. But stations can’t just turn off the AM transmitter.

<remainder snipped by CAwasinNJ due to copyright restrictions>

[CAwasinNJ]

If AM stations start getting what are effectively LPFM's, the NAB is going to go ballistic. They can't be happy about what's already happened, but since the AM's in question aren't a big threat right now I think they can live with it. I"m quite sure that it's because of the lobbiests paid for by the big owners that there are big restrictions on the use of the fill-ins. The FCC probably also doesn't want to go down the same wrong path that led to non-comm satellator networks of hundreds of stations.