As of the publishing of this article the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act next Monday, September 14, 2026. Unlike other times when we have gotten close this will be a standalone floor vote. Meaning it’s not attached to other transportation or omnibus packages. This is certainly not the finish line but it’s a significant step in the right direction. It took hard work and dedication from a lot of radio advocates, like my friend Oscar Rodriguez at the TAB, Curtis LeGeyt with the NAB and many well-known radio executives like John Catsimatidis out of New York, to get us to this point.
Supposedly we have the votes to push this through the house but, as we all know that’s only the first step in the process. It still has to get past the Senate and the President’s desk, who will likely have electric vehicle manufacturers in his ear who aren’t in favor of it. Then, even if the bill does become a law, it’ll be on the Department of Transportation to issue formal regulations enforcing the act and on automakers to comply with that enforcement.
In other stories about the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act I’ve seen a lot of negative comments about how this is a last-ditch effort to stop something that’s inevitable anyway. One guy said, ‘You might as well ask them to put a telegram in there.’ Which is funny but does sting a little. Here’s why those takes miss the mark and a couple thoughts on why this piece of legislation matters.
If we don’t protect AM radio in cars, FM will likely be next on the chopping block. At one point that would’ve seemed like an extreme and unlikely leap, but bear in mind that we’ve already seen some foreshadowing on this. Last year Bezos backed Slate released a truck with no radio at all included in their standard package. Behind the scenes radio has been in a battle for space on the dash for several years now. It’s no time to let our guard down.
It is true that It’s hard to argue that AM radio, by itself, is still a viable business. I’m a lifelong radio guy and I wouldn’t purchase a standalone AM without an FM translator at any price point in virtually any market in the US right now, unless it was already cash flowing. Because the cost to operate it and get it cash flowing isn’t worth the risk. That’s why the licenses people are walking away from, at least that I’ve seen so far, are all AM licenses.
However, that doesn’t mean that there’s no path to profitability for AM radio. As part of a larger group where some costs can be shared and with the right format for the market it’s in, AMs can still make money. Especially if they lean heavy into digital and use the AM signal to push listeners to those digital assets.
But, most importantly, they’re still necessary from a community service standpoint. While virtually all of the country is covered by at least one FM signal, there are certainly parts of the US where the only local radio station is an AM. That becomes very important during life threatening whether events and for covering local issues because those are likely the same markets that no longer have a local newspaper.
While this act is only a small part of what our industry needs to survive and thrive in 2027 and beyond. It is an important step in protecting our industry while we transition to the next phase of radio.
What do you think? Will the AM For Every Vehicle Act become a law and how important is it for the radio industry at large? Comment below or email me at Andy@RadioStationConsultant.com.
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