AM radio has been a pillar of American life for over a century, and this is especially true for diverse communities. AM radio stations provide niche programming that is not available on other platforms, such as in-language news, sports and music, religious programming and community affairs shows. This vital medium also builds community by providing a platform for local voices.
During times of emergency, AM radio stations keep diverse communities informed and connected, providing weather alerts and evacuation orders to keep them safe. This vital service cannot be easily replaced.
Despite this, some auto manufacturers have discontinued including AM radio from the car dashboard. More than 200 members of Congress are supporting legislation – the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 315 / H.R. 979) – that would ensure Americans who depend on AM radio each month for news, entertainment and critical safety information can continue to have access to this reliable communications medium.
Serving Diverse Communities
Organizations representing diverse, rural and public safety interests have provided an outpouring of support for this legislation. Our coalition has grown to over 140 key stakeholders, each advocating to preserve AM radio’s role in our national communications infrastructure.
The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC), ALLvanza, the National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), National Urban League (NUL) and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates wrote to Congress:
“According to a recent report from Nielsen, over 80 million people in the United States listen to AM radio each month. This number is especially significant for communities of color and underrepresented groups that have a limited number of media outlets that cater to their specific needs. AM radio helps to fill that gap by providing a platform for locally produced content that is relevant to their audience and speaks to their unique cultural and linguistic needs. It is also significant to point out that AM radio serves as an entry point for radio station ownership by many ethnic and racial minorities.”
NUL has been working with Congress to advance this legislation since the last Congress. In December 2024, they sent a letter to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries highlighting the essential role AM radio plays for multicultural communities. The Hispanic Federation also sent a letter to Leader Jeffries in December 2024. In February 2025, NABOB and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. issued an updated statement of support. SAG-AFTRA also issued a letter of support that same month.
Mario H. Lopez, president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, said:
“Among the 4,500 AM radio stations across the U.S. whose signals reach over 80 million Americans a month, there are over 13 million American Latinos aged 12 years and up. Also, of the 1,500 minority-owned stations are about 600 stations that broadcast at least in part in a language other than English—including nearly 440 stations that have Spanish language or Latino/regional formats.”
A Vital Communications Tool in Rural Communities
AM radio is also a critical information source in rural and remote areas where internet and cellular connectivity remain limited or unreliable.
Native Public Media emphasized in a 2024 post, Access to AM Radio in Vehicles Enhances Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, that tribal communities rely on AM radio as a resilient, affordable communications tool in rural and remote areas.
The board of directors of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting said:
“In rural America, AM radio is critical for those without reliable cellular or broadband access. Farmers in the field and on rural roadways, not connected to cellular or broadband, also turn to AM radio for the latest weather updates, crop reports, local information, and entertainment. For farmers and ranchers, radio continues to be the primary source of daily agricultural news for listeners throughout the year.”
In a 2025 blog post, the president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting shared how AM radio supports agricultural livelihoods. Additionally, the American Farm Bureau Federation stated:
“AM radio is a lifeline for farmers and ranchers in isolated fields, greenhouses and barns, and for the many rural Americans who face limited access to reliable internet or cell phone coverage. From emergency weather alerts to crop market updates, AM radio is often the first and most dependable way to access vital information.”
A Lifeline in Times of Crisis
When wildfires, storms and other disasters knock out power or cell networks, AM radio often remains the only reliable source of real-time, public safety information.
Troy Miller, president and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, said:
“Not only does AM radio benefit listeners across America as an accessible platform for news, information, and Christian content, but AM radio is time-tested and resilient in times of emergency, reaching Americans in their homes and automobiles when power lines and cell towers are impacted. Removing AM radio from the auto dashboard hinders a vital public safety system that has proven critical during disasters of the past.”
Bill Sweeney, senior vice president at AARP, said:
“Adults age 50 and above represent the largest share of AM radio listeners, but they also represent those most at risk from disaster events. In these situations, AM radio is a critical element of the emergency response system. Older people need all possible channels of communication available to them to ensure their safety.”
AARP reiterated this in a 2025 endorsement letter and a blog post urging Congress to safeguard AM radio access.
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Fire Chief Josey Webb Sr. of the Waynesville (NC) Fire Department wrote about AM radio’s critical role in emergency communications when modern networks fail.
A coalition of public safety organizations including Big City Emergency Managers, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, International Association of Emergency Managers, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Association of Counties and National Emergency Management Association also said:
“Unlike other services, AM broadcasts are unique in terms of their resiliency and reach, including to areas that may not be served fully, if at all, by cell and/or broadband service. Of particular concern to us is the fact that removing free broadcast AM radio from certain vehicles effectively dismantles the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s system for ensuring the President can reach all Americans in the event of a public safety or national security emergency.”
Congress must pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to ensure this irreplaceable communications tool remains accessible to the diverse, rural and underserved communities that depend on it.
