AM Radio Bill Passes House as LeGeyt Says AM Remains a ‘Critical Lifeline’

Kaitlin Housler

Curtis LeGeyt, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), said legislation requiring AM radio access in new vehicles could soon reach the president’s desk, highlighting the medium’s continued role in emergency communications and local broadcasting.

LeGeyt discussed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 during an appearance Tuesday on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show as the U.S. House of Representatives prepared to vote on the legislation.

“I think it’s a huge day,” LeGeyt said. “The House of Representatives is poised in a few minutes here to have legislation on the floor which will ensure that every newly manufactured automobile in this country maintains access to AM radio.”

The House passed the bill Tuesday evening by a voice vote.

LeGeyt said some automakers have increasingly removed AM radio access from vehicles, prompting listeners to contact members of Congress.

“Listeners across the country responded to that, reached out to their members of Congress expressing real concern about losing the critical lifeline programming that AM radio provides all across this country from that automobile experience, and Congress is acting,” he said.

At the time of Tuesday’s interview, LeGeyt explained that the bill had 317 House cosponsors and support from a filibuster-proof majority of the Senate.

“So we’re hopeful that we can get this across the finish line and to the president’s desk in short order here,” LeGeyt said.

The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish rules requiring AM radio capabilities as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles. The bill also requires AM access to be readily available to drivers, while allowing certain smaller automakers additional time to comply.

LeGeyt said the requirement is particularly important during emergencies.

“It’s about public safety. It’s about ensuring that consumers have free media in the automobile,” he said. “And AM radio is the form of media that really stays on the air in those times of emergency, hurricanes, wildfires, when other forms of media fail.”

LeGeyt also said AM radio continues to have a substantial audience, with “82 million listeners a month” tuning in.

“For those listeners who are accessing a station, especially in rural areas of the country—through AM, we want to ensure they continue to have that access,” he said.

In a statement following the House’s approval of the bill, LeGeyt said, “Today’s decisive House passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is a significant step forward for the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio for lifesaving emergency information, trusted news and a vital connection to their communities.”

“America’s broadcasters are deeply grateful to House leadership, lead cosponsors Reps. Bilirakis and Pallone and the overwhelming bipartisan coalition that made today’s vote possible. We look forward to continuing our work with the Senate bill authors and their more than 60 bipartisan cosponsors to advance this critical public safety legislation and send it to the president’s desk,” he added.

Watch:

– – –

Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Car Radio” by David Emrich.

 

 

Related posts

Comments