The National Association of Broadcasters has mobilized a high-stakes lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill to prevent the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act from stalling in Congress’s crowded legislative calendar. This push directly impacts radio programmers, rights holders, and Black music executives who rely on AM’s unique role in delivering emergency alerts and community-specific content that streaming and FM often fail to replicate during crises. With broadcasters from over 30 states descending on Washington, the industry is shifting from building bipartisan support to securing the critical floor time needed for passage before the year ends.
From Support Building to Legislative Time
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has already achieved overwhelming bipartisan backing, securing 318 House co-sponsors and support from 61 Senators after advancing through both chambers with near-unanimous votes. The legislation mandates that the Department of Transportation issue a rule requiring AM radio capabilities as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles manufactured in the United States or imported for sale. It also requires warning labels on vehicles that omit AM access and prohibits manufacturers from charging separate fees for the feature. Despite this momentum, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt warns that broad support alone will not guarantee passage given the waning number of legislative days remaining before the August recess.
The industry’s strategy now pivots to finding a viable legislative vehicle, with House lawmakers previously adding the bill to the surface transportation reauthorization package in May. NAB is not relying on a single path but intends to seek inclusion in appropriations legislation or other must-pass packages moving later this year. LeGeyt emphasized that the goal is to ensure the bill has multiple options to reach the finish line, whether through a standalone vote or attachment to larger legislative measures.
Public Safety Allies Validate the Push
To reinforce the public safety argument central to the bill, broadcasters are partnering with organizations like AARP and the International Association of Fire Chiefs during their Capitol Hill meetings. LeGeyt believes these external groups help validate the necessity of keeping AM in dashboards by highlighting its critical role in community safety and emergency communication. The bill’s text explicitly notes that AM radio is often used to deliver emergency alerts, a function that becomes vital when newer vehicles exclude AM equipment.
While the industry has spent significant political capital on this issue even as listening shifts toward FM, LeGeyt frames the campaign as a broader affirmation of radio’s enduring role in American communities. He rejects the notion that this is a “do or die” moment but asserts the industry is well-positioned to pass the bill in the current Congress if policymakers keep it top of mind. With a million listeners having urged Congress to retain radio in vehicles, the push serves as a reaffirmation of the public’s appreciation for broadcasters’ free and always-available service.
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