Radio & Music News Weekly
House Subcommittee Passes ‘AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act’
The House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce has passed the AM RADIO FOR EVERY VEHICLE ACT. They see this as a public safety measure for emergencies via the emergency alert system.
The subcommittee had praise for MIDWAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION/CHICAGO CEO MELODY SPANN-COOPER’s testimony during the “Preserving Americans’ Access to AM Radio” hearing earlier in the month (5/24).
The next step in the process is for passage through the full HOUSE Energy and Commerce Committee. If the ACT passes there, it will then proceed to scheduling for all House members to vote on the bill. The SENATE version was passed through committee and made eligible for a floor vote last JULY (2023).
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS (NAB)Pres./CURTIS LEGEYT said, “NAB applauds TODAY’s markup and passage of the AM RADIO FOR EVERY VEHICLE ACT. This critical legislation ensures that the 82 million Americans who rely on AM radio each month will continue to have access to diverse programming, local news, and essential emergency information.”
“AM radio serves as the backbone of our EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM, providing timely alerts and information during disasters and emergencies, even when cell and broadband services fail. America’s broadcasters are grateful to the bipartisan champions of this legislative effort for their leadership and commitment to preserving the indispensable role of AM radio in local communities across the country“.