NRB CEO: Keeping AM in Cars Is About Leaving Airwaves Accessible to All.

The central issue that should drive Congress to pass the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” is the threat to free information access should the band be removed from cars, according to Troy A. Miller, President and CEO of the National Association of Religious Broadcasters.

“The push to remove AM radio from new vehicles isn't a matter of phasing out outdated technology – it's about determining who controls the flow of information within our vehicles,” Miller writes in an opinion piece for Newsmax. “Last year, Congress made progress in advancing legislation to protect AM radio in vehicles, but the fight isn't over.”

Arguing to keep the airwaves available to independent voices, Miller says, “In today's digital age, we are witnessing the consequences of corporate censorship, with big tech, banking institutions, and other powerful entities deciding who gets a platform and who gets silenced. The battle over content control now extends beyond our handheld devices, reaching into the very cars we drive. Now is not the time to allow automakers to become the next gatekeepers of information, determining which voices are heard and which are suppressed.”

Miller's op-ed notes that “the Act would ensure that automakers cannot phase out AM radio in favor of digital-only options, preserving an essential tool for public communication. Removing AM radio from the dashboard would disenfranchise thousands of Americans who cannot afford the luxury of a connected dashboard, further deepening the digital divide.”

In addition, Miller says, “Removing AM radio from cars would limit a historically free and open medium, placing control of information into the hands of a few powerful corporations. [Passing the bill] recognizes that AM radio is not just a relic of the past, but that it represents a pillar of America's long-standing commitment to the free flow of information, ensuring that all voices can be heard without corporate interference.”

At its core, Miller writes, “this issue touches on a fundamental principle: Americans should have the freedom to access content of their choosing without corporate gatekeepers determining what they can and cannot hear. AM radio provides a platform for voices that might otherwise be marginalized by algorithm-driven digital platforms.”

Miller's piece urges Congress to “act now to ensure that AM radio remains in the dashboard, keeping the airwaves open and accessible to all. This is not a partisan issue – it’s a matter of national interest and free speech. The fight for AM radio is the fight to let the free voice of every American lead the conversation.”