How many shortwave stations are there in the U.S. and around the world?
There is one government-owned shortwave broadcasting organization in the United States: the International Broadcasting Bureau, which operates the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Marti and Radio Free Asia. In addition, there are about 25 privately-owned shortwave stations throughout the U.S. and its territories that are licensed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). Most, but not all, of these privately-owned stations are owned by religious broadcasting organizations. Throughout the world, there are hundreds of shortwave stations. Most governments operate one or more shortwave stations. Other stations are owned by religious organizations. Some are shortwave relays of a commercial AM or FM station intended for audiences in remote areas of that particular country. But very few countries license privately-owned shortwave stations that are designed to broadcast to foreign audiences. The United States is one of the few countries that permit such broadcaster
