Religious Broadcasters Step Up Effort To Secure AM Radio In All Vehicles.

There is a renewed push to get a pending bill that would require AM radio in vehicles, now that Congress has completed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” National Religious Broadcasters President Troy Miller says he will head to Capitol Hill this week, advocating for lawmakers to pass the legislation.

NRB says AM radio remains “a critical platform” for many religious broadcasters. While many operators have been able to make the leap to the FM dial, NRB says stations on the AM are still used by more than 120 members. “AM radio remains an essential, free, and neutral medium, providing Americans direct access to vital information and serving as the primary lifeline for emergency communications during crises,” the trade group says in a statement.

The NRB has traditionally had plenty of sway among Republicans in Congress that currently control the agenda, and Miller has had a good relationship with the Trump administration. At the 2024 NRB International Christian Media Convention, President Trump used his appearance to throw his support behind ensuring AM remains in vehicles.

“I will protect the content that is pro-God. We’re going to protect pro-God context and content. To that end, at the request of the NRB, I will do my part to protect AM radio in our cars,” Trump told Christian broadcasters. “We like to listen to AM radio. Millions of Americans value listening to Christian broadcasters and you’re under siege. And we will protect God in our public square, which they don’t want us to do.”

The biggest challenge for the radio industry may be legislative inertia, not support for the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979/S. 315). There is already overwhelming bipartisan support for the bill. The list of supporters in the House currently sits at 242 — well more than the majority needed to pass it — along with 61 members onboard in the Senate. That is enough to overcome any potential filibuster challenge.

The legislation was passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee in February with bipartisan support and is currently awaiting a floor vote. A companion version (H.R. 979) was introduced in the House but has not yet been considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Washington insiders say the Committee is expected to mark up several bills later this month, and the hope is the AM bill will be included. But time is tight, since the House is scheduled to begin its August recess on July 25 with lawmakers not returning to Washington until after Labor Day.

The proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to require AM radio capability — analog or digital — in all new passenger vehicles, citing AM’s essential role in public safety. The proposed rule would give most manufacturers two to three years to comply, while small-volume producers would get four. And while any vehicle that carries 12 passengers or less would be covered, motorcycles fall outside the definition.

Until the rule takes effect, carmakers would need to label any AM-less vehicles and would be barred from charging extra to include AM functionality. The law also pre-empts any potential state-level rules, establishing a unified federal standard related to the access of AM stations in passenger vehicles.

Changes in the legislation have brought about some naysayers. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) said this spring that a 10-year sunset of the AM requirement was sufficient for him to get onboard. The DOT would be required to assess whether other technology would be sufficient to replace AM in the years to come.

The proposal has drawn criticism from a handful of groups, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the Consumer Technology Association. But the bill has a deeper bench of support, with over 125 organizations speaking out in its favor, including the National Emergency Management Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, AARP, Native Public Media, SAG-AFTRA, and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.