Issues & Advocacy
NASBA members work to educate the public and public officials regarding the role of broadcasting in the lives of Americans. From disseminating important information during times of crises to entertainment and news, broadcasters across the country are working for your community everyday.
AM radio serves a vital role in our nation’s emergency infrastructure as the backbone of the Emergency Alert System. When the power goes out and cell networks are down, the car radio is often the only way for people to get information, sometimes for days at a time.
- AM radio keeps 82 million listeners connected to news, sports and entertainment each month.
- Agricultural communities, often with poor or non-existent cellular and broadband coverage, depend on AM radio for critical weather updates, crop reports and local information.
- AM stations also serve communities of color and underrepresented groups with religious and in-language programming.
Despite AM radio’s vital role in communities, some auto manufacturers have begun discontinuing AM radio from the dashboard.
Broadcasters support the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 1669; H.R. 3413) that was introduced in the 118th Congress. This bill would preserve AM radio in cars and ensure Americans can continue to have access to this reliable communications medium.
Congress should enact the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to keep this vital service as a standard feature in all vehicles and ensure Americans’ public safety.
A free press is the bedrock of American democracy. For over a century, broadcasters and their teams of journalists have served the public interest by bringing truth to light. Unfortunately, the dominance of Big Tech platforms threatens this vital role.
Congress should support laws and policies that recognize and uphold broadcasters’ essential role in democracy and ensure their ability to compete and continue serving their communities. This includes supporting the FCC’s modernization of TV and radio ownership rules and urging the FCC to allocate regulatory fees more equitably.
Congress has repeatedly rejected the record labels’ attempts to impose a harmful new performance tax on local radio stations. This would financially cripple local radio stations simply for airing music. It would jeopardize local jobs, stifle new artists and harm local radio listeners.
Broadcasters stand ready to work with Congress and the recording industry on a balanced music licensing proposal that promotes innovation and recognizes the benefit to artists and listeners of radio’s free, locally focused platform.
Congress should stand up for local radio station listeners by opposing a performance tax.
Congress has recognized that local stations must be able to negotiate for the value of their signals in a process known as retransmission consent to keep pace in an incredibly competitive marketplace. This provides more choice for viewers and resources for stations to invest in local news, public affairs programming and emergency weather coverage.
Broadcasters urge policymakers to continue reaffirming the importance of the retransmission consent system.
Broadcasters are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and creating new opportunities for women, people of color and other underrepresented communities.
Since 2000, the NAB Leadership Foundation’s cornerstone initiative has been the Broadcast Leadership Training program, which has a strong track record of preparing women and people of color to purchase and run radio and television stations.
Congress should pass the Broadcast VOICES Act to help ensure station owners are as diverse as the communities they serve.
Under the U.S. tax code, advertising is treated as an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible in the year it is incurred.
Congress should oppose legislation that modifies the tax laws to make advertising more expensive for businesses.
The next generation of broadcast television can deliver lifesaving advanced emergency alerting, stunning pictures, immersive and customizable audio and improved reception to enhance and expand the broadcast viewing experience.
NEXTGEN TV combines the best features of broadcast television and broadband, allowing local stations to better personalize their broadcasts with information and interactive features to give viewers the content that is most relevant to them.
The FCC has approved voluntary use of the Next Generation TV standard, which requires no additional spectrum and no government subsidies. To date, this free over-the-air service is available to more than half of all U.S. households.
As broadcasters continue to invest in the future of television, Congress can help by urging the FCC to maintain a reasonable, flexible framework for NEXTGEN TV deployment. To learn more about the next generation of television, visit WatchNextGenTV.com.
