Broadcasters’ recent Washington blitzkrieg has again proven successful in building support for legislation near and dear to the radio industry. Following last week’s NAB State Leadership Conference, which brought more than 560 broadcasters to meet with their local lawmakers where they do business, bills pushing for AM radio in vehicles and opposing a radio royalty stacked up dozens of new co-sponsors.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 315) grew its Senate majority last week to 54 as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) added his name to the list of co-sponsors to the bill. Every name counts as the bill is still shy of the 60 backers that would guarantee it clearing any potential hold on a floor vote. During his appearance at the NAB conference last week, bill sponsor Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said he was confident the bill would be brought up for a vote, and that if it reaches President Trump’s desk, he will sign it.
If passed, the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles. If they don’t, carmakers could be fined. Before the effective date of the rule, manufacturers who do not include AM would be required to put a warning label on vehicles. And carmakers would be prohibited from charging extra for AM.
Broadcasters corralled a lot more names for the Local Radio Freedom Act (H.Con.Res.12). It puts members of Congress on record opposing a change in federal copyright law to force radio stations to pay a performance royalty for on-air music use. The list of House members siding with the radio industry grew to 135 last week, as several additional lawmakers added their name. They included Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Greg Landsman (D-OH), John Larson (D-CT), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Laura Gillen (D-NY), David Taylor (R-OH), Harold Rogers (R-KY), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), John Brecheen (R-OK), Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Shomari Figures (D-AL).
A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate last week. But with 20 Senators saying they also oppose a radio royalties, it shows the radio industry still has plenty of work to do to ensure the performance royalty proposal isn’t passed.
