RAiN Notes: May 26

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has been added to pending legislation focused on surface transportation authorization in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Attaching the AM radio mandate to a larger bill that reauthorizes funds for surface transportation is expected to increase the likelihood of passage this year. A public statement from the NAB emphasizes that continued access to AM radio in vehicles is essential for public safety and that AM radio plays a unique and indispensable role in keeping Americans informed, especially during emergencies. Separately, local broadcasters have been pressuring the FCC to relax ownership restrictions to compete with out-of-market digital competitors, raising questions about whether consolidation could reduce choices for local advertisers and other stakeholders.

"“Attaching the bill on AM radio to the larger legislation reauthorizing funds for surface transportation increases the chances that the AM radio mandate could pass Congress this year,” Oxenford asserts. He points to a public statement from the NAB, which says in part: “As lawmakers consider policies affecting America's transportation infrastructure, ensuring continued access to AM radio in vehicles remains essential for public safety. Leaders on both sides of the aisle recognize AM radio's unique and indispensable role in keeping Americans informed, especially in times of emergency.”"

"“Local broadcasters have been pressuring the FCC to ease up on ownership restrictions so they can more handily compete with out-of-market digital competitors. But won't consolidation lead to fewer choices for the businesses that support radio and TV - local advertisers?” The trio discusses how consolidation will affect digital competition, local newsrooms, consumers, and advertisers."

Read at RAIN News