Radio France and Deutschlandradio shut down their medium wave transmissions at the end of 2015. While in the United States the Federal Communications Commission is trying to save AM by rebroadcasting AM stations on FM radio, in Europe, authorities are moving away from the frequencies. Medium wave is the part of the radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. In Europe the medium band ranges from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz, with channels spaced every 9 kHz, while in North America it extends to 1705 kHz, with 10 kHz spacing. The AM band can travel farther then FM, as the waves are larger, but it is also much noisier, with much static. Radio France and Deutschlandradio both said listener numbers have dwindled significantly on the band, and shifted programming to FM, digital, and Internet broadcast outlets.