Dick A: I had a sinking feeling that what you posted regarding the "Repeaters" was the reason we lost local signals. I worked in an Emergency Radio Control Center, back in the late 70's Early 80's. We had to abandon Lower FreQ Broadcast Bands then and later they had to upgrade again in Early 00's.
I actually particiapated in the AT&T demonstration project in the Seattle area! We took calls from the Unit Radio and responded on our Banana Phones. We located all the deadspots and weak Signals. People looked at us rather strangly when we used them and we always replied, when asked what was going on, that it was a Secret Government project! lol