A recent meeting between staff from the Federal Communications Commission and the National Association of Broadcasters shows that AM remains a major focus for the radio advocacy group. Certainly, the push to get the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” passed in Washington is a top priority, but so is convincing the FCC to make rule changes and technology developments to help senior band broadcasters. A new filing by the NAB provides the framework of the meeting on June 5 which included the Al Shuldiner and James Bradshaw of the FCC Media Bureau’s Audio Division, as well as NAB Vice President of Advanced Engineering David Layer. In the meeting, NAB urged the FCC to eliminate certain minimum efficiency standards that “currently hinder AM stations from choosing antennas that could expand their reach and locating antennas on smaller, less expensive parcels that are closer to their audiences.” The request comes at a time when AM broadcasters continue to look for ways to shrink the physical presence of their antenna and transmission facilities, which could free up valuable real estate. [Related: “WMVP(AM) Engineer Explains Its Transmitter Move to Joliet”] Secondly, NAB asked the FCC to eliminate certain rules that complicate AM stations’ access to the expanded band (1605-1705 kHz), and to consider opening a filing window for stations to apply for frequencies in the band. The FCC kept open the AM revitalization docket in December 2025 even after it trimmed over 2,000 dormant dockets as part of Chairman Brendan Carr’s Delete initiative. The commission said at the time it determined revitalization of the AM radio service was “not a good candidate for termination,” leaving open the window for more changes. The AM revitalization proceeding was launched in 2013 and did include several major steps that allowed for digital-only AM stations, eliminated the AM “ratchet” rules and relaxed some community coverage standards. At the recent meeting, NAB said it also discussed other potential updates that “could one day unleash more opportunities for AM broadcasters to leverage technology to further enhance their signal quality and succeed in today’s competitive media marketplace.” But the disclosure filing doesn’t include any further details on what those additional opportunities for AM broadcasters might include. NAB concluded it comments saying it continues to stress the vital role of AM radio stations in the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure and public safety. The group encouraged the FCC to… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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