NAB Urges FCC to Advance AM Radio Revitalization

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 4:05pm CT

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is pressing the Federal Communications Commission to take additional steps to support AM radio, including easing antenna efficiency requirements and expanding access to the AM expanded band, according to an ex parte filing submitted June 9.

The filing details a June 5 meeting between NAB representatives Larry Walke, Ben Arden and David Layer and FCC Media Bureau Audio Division officials Al Shuldiner and James Bradshaw. During the meeting, the NAB outlined several proposals designed to enhance the viability and competitiveness of AM broadcasting.

Among the group's recommendations, the NAB urged the FCC to eliminate certain minimum antenna efficiency standards that it says limit station operators' ability to deploy antennas capable of improving coverage while allowing facilities to be located on smaller, less expensive properties closer to population centers.

The association also asked the FCC to remove regulatory barriers that complicate AM broadcasters' access to the expanded band between 1605 and 1705 kHz and to consider opening a filing window for stations seeking frequencies in that portion of the spectrum.

The requests come as the FCC continues to evaluate its long-running AM revitalization proceeding, first launched in 2013. While the Commission closed more than 2,000 dormant proceedings in December 2025, it opted to keep the AM revitalization docket active, signaling that additional reforms remain under consideration.

In its filing, the NAB thanked the FCC for previous efforts to provide greater operational flexibility for AM broadcasters and emphasized the medium's role in public safety and critical infrastructure communications. The organization encouraged regulators to continue pursuing policies that strengthen the platform's long-term viability.

The NAB also said it discussed other potential regulatory and technology initiatives that could further improve signal quality and help AM stations compete in today's media environment. The association concluded by pledging to continue working with the FCC and industry stakeholders on future rule changes and technological developments that could benefit AM broadcasters and their listeners.

The filing was submitted as part of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative, an agency-wide effort to identify and remove regulations viewed as outdated or unnecessary. For AM broadcasters, the proceeding could represent the next phase of an FCC modernization effort that has already led to expanded FM translator opportunities, relaxed technical rules, and authorization of all-digital AM operations.