Radio broadcasters are flying into Washington today to press their case for the AM radio mandate.
The National Association of Broadcasters has invited them in from around the country — from 31 states, at last count — to visit legislators on Capitol Hill to lobby in support of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
They’ll participate in an “AM Radio Fly-in Reception” this afternoon at NAB HQ; there will be an issues briefing and a reception with the press and industry leaders. Also participating will be representatives of the AARP and the International Association of Fire Chiefs; an NAB spokeswoman told us they have been “great advocates on this issue.”
Then on Tuesday the broadcasters will head to the Hill to meet with members of Congress.
They’ll press their case that AM should be required in new vehicles to ensure that Americans can be alerted to impending danger, to support the emergency alerting infrastructure and to provide crucial information when cell networks fail.
They’ll also argue that AM radio is highly important to agricultural communities, communities of color and underrepresented groups that rely on its in-language, religious and other community-oriented niche programming.
Carmakers and the Consumer Technology Association have criticized the legislation. CTA has said that mandating AM radios in every car “will hinder safety and entertainment innovations and increase production costs.”
The bills were introduced by Sens. Ted Cruz and Ed Markey in the Senate and Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Frank Pallone in the House. The legislation has 41 co-sponsors in the Senate.
NAB says it has support from organizations like the National Emergency Management Association, Native Public Media, SAG-AFTRA and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.
[Related: “Transportation Bill Could Provide Road to Passage for AM Mandate”]
