September 26, 2025 • 7 mins
Charlyn Stanbury, Vice President, National Assn of Broadcasters talks about why it is critical to maintain AM Radio in automobiles to provide life-saving information during emergencies, especially to under-served communities that may not have access to other sources.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
I'm Vanessa Tyler reporting at the Congressional Black Caucuses fifty
fourth Annual Legislative Conference on the Black Information Network, your
Home for Black News. First joining me is Charles Stanbury,
National Association of Broadcasters.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome, char Thank you so much. Vanessa.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You know, this is always like a family reunion when
I'm here, it is.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Like a reunion, but you are here with some very
important work to do. You can tell us about the
AM for Every Vehicle Act. Would you explain what that
is and tell us why it is so vital that
it's passed in Congress.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Absolutely, So I'll start with the importance of AM radio. Right,
I think back to being with my great grandmother. She
always had the radio station on AM.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
That was the way that she could get her news,
the way that she could get public safety alerts, her
gospel programming, the local preachers from the churches.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Right, all of that is AM.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
And so you know, we tend to think of AM
radio as like a lifeline for our communities. We have
the build of the AM Radio for every Vehicle at
we have over three hundred co sponsors, which is great.
So it shows how it's such a bipartisan bill and Basically,
this is just mandating and making sure that AM radio
is in vehicles. It's so vital when you think about hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes,
(01:24):
just you know, any of the public safety that needs
to happen. When this is where you get vital news
and vital information.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
You know, it's interesting because people may not realize, but
there was a thought and an effort because everybody is
on FM and maybe people you serious or whatever, or
have their iHeartRadio app whatever, that there was talk of
just eliminating AM radio out of cars. And you're saying
that is a very dangerous thing to do because AM
(01:53):
radio is a lifeline.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Absolutely, because when you think about AM radio is free
and it's over the air. So sometimes when you have
apps or you have you know, these things that use
Wi Fi. In the instance that Wi Fi goes down,
people can go in their car actually turn on AM
radio to get all of these alerts and information.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And with the climate being to the extreme, you'll need
that information for it, whether it's a hurricane or tornado
or whatever need that you might need information.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I'm born and raised from Jacksonville, Florida, so I know.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Storms al right. I've been in Orlando.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I've been in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and usually the
way I can get alerts in, you know, in the
instance of a hurricane, is by turning on that radio,
and usually it's AM radio.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Where does this particular bill stand?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Now?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
How are things going with it?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
I love that question, Vanessa, because we actually had a
good victory last week in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
They actually marked up this bill, and so what we're
trying to do is make sure that it.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Gets to the House floor for a vote, and then
it can get the Senate for a vote and hopefully
for a signature.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You mentioned it was bipartisan, yes, And I just wanted
to do were people even aware of what was going on?
And what's been the enthusiasm for this to pass into law?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Oh? Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
So I like to say that our partners when it
comes to this bill are strange bedfellows. Right on the
Senate side, it's Senator Ed Markey and Senator Ted Cruz,
who are two different types of senators, right, And then
when you think on the House side, we have Congressmen
Gus Billa Rockis from Florida and also Congressman who's the
ranking member Frank Prolonge of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So it's really good to see.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Not only bipartisan support, but also to have colleagues and
both the House and the Senate that are bipartisan.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I'm just trying to think to myself, who would be
against this?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I mean, it's all different types of people that may
be against it.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You know, there may be manufacturers that may not want
to They may want to monitor their dashboard right, and
so they may not want to have to include AM
radio in vehicles. But it's just so important because, like
I mentioned, it is a lifeline and it's something that
people depend on because they know it's free and that
they'll always have access to it.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Could you imagine the elimination of AM radio a lot
of cars. That would just be a disaster for a
lot of people.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Absolutely, And if you think about climate change and you
think about how we've had more disasters and more things
that are common like AM is so vital.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, that is something. So at this point, it has
a left committee and you're just waiting for it to
go to the full.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We're ready for a full vote.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
If you can get that vote on the House floor,
that's what we're itching towards and I'll say this also,
this is how bipartisan this bill is.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
We've hit three hundred.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
But I think we're going to continue just with the
momentum because so many members of Congress see the need
for AM to be in all the vehicles.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Any indication what the President may do is is there
any any interest from him in this enthusiasm.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I mean he's spoken about the importance of AM radio
and previously conferences before, it's been a discussion that's both
been with Senate leadership and with House leadership.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
So we're hopeful that we can get over to finish line.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Well, we're hopeful that we can turn on the car
and here at radio, that's for sure. I wanted to
ask you because television, I know you're with the National
Association of Broadcasters, and television has kind of been a
lot under fire, especially with the comments from the FCC chairman,
and I just wanted to get your take in terms
(05:40):
of free speech on television.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I think it's so vital and it's so important. Just
last week we observe Constitution Day. Today is Friday. Yesterday
was First Amendment Day, and so when we think about broadcasters,
we think about the importance of free speech and what's
in the constitution. You know, with everything that's been going on,
especially in television broadcasts, just know that that what's vital
(06:07):
to broadcasters and the service that we have is free speech.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I'm curious and there was a time where one group
couldn't own but a handful of stations, and now very
few can own hundreds of stations. I'm just curious what
that does to the whole aspect of free speech.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Absolutely, I mean, I think when you have different owners
and you have more owners than it's a variety of
the type of free speech that you have, and it's
a variety of voices. So you know, at NAB is
so important to us to make sure that the owners
reflect our communities that we're serving, and so that means
that there is a variety of voices that may be
(06:49):
out there. And so you know, when people have an
opportunity to come into the broadcast community, especially as owners,
we know that they are representing various committees throughout the country,
and so that means various voices are being heard.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, you can make sure the voices are heard. Shars Stansbury,
the National Association of Broadcasters, the AM for Every Vehicle Act.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Thank you so much, Thank you so much, Vanessa.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I'm Vanessa Tyler reporting at the Congressional Black Caucuses fifty
fourth annual legislative Conference. On the Black Information Network, You're
home for Black News First
I'm Vanessa Tyler reporting at the Congressional Black Caucuses fifty
fourth Annual Legislative Conference on the Black Information Network, your
Home for Black News. First joining me is Charles Stanbury,
National Association of Broadcasters.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome, char Thank you so much. Vanessa.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You know, this is always like a family reunion when
I'm here, it is.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Like a reunion, but you are here with some very
important work to do. You can tell us about the
AM for Every Vehicle Act. Would you explain what that
is and tell us why it is so vital that
it's passed in Congress.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Absolutely, So I'll start with the importance of AM radio. Right,
I think back to being with my great grandmother. She
always had the radio station on AM.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
That was the way that she could get her news,
the way that she could get public safety alerts, her
gospel programming, the local preachers from the churches.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Right, all of that is AM.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
And so you know, we tend to think of AM
radio as like a lifeline for our communities. We have
the build of the AM Radio for every Vehicle at
we have over three hundred co sponsors, which is great.
So it shows how it's such a bipartisan bill and Basically,
this is just mandating and making sure that AM radio
is in vehicles. It's so vital when you think about hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes,
(01:24):
just you know, any of the public safety that needs
to happen. When this is where you get vital news
and vital information.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
You know, it's interesting because people may not realize, but
there was a thought and an effort because everybody is
on FM and maybe people you serious or whatever, or
have their iHeartRadio app whatever, that there was talk of
just eliminating AM radio out of cars. And you're saying
that is a very dangerous thing to do because AM
(01:53):
radio is a lifeline.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Absolutely, because when you think about AM radio is free
and it's over the air. So sometimes when you have
apps or you have you know, these things that use
Wi Fi. In the instance that Wi Fi goes down,
people can go in their car actually turn on AM
radio to get all of these alerts and information.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And with the climate being to the extreme, you'll need
that information for it, whether it's a hurricane or tornado
or whatever need that you might need information.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I'm born and raised from Jacksonville, Florida, so I know.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Storms al right. I've been in Orlando.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I've been in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and usually the
way I can get alerts in, you know, in the
instance of a hurricane, is by turning on that radio,
and usually it's AM radio.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Where does this particular bill stand?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Now?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
How are things going with it?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
I love that question, Vanessa, because we actually had a
good victory last week in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
They actually marked up this bill, and so what we're
trying to do is make sure that it.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Gets to the House floor for a vote, and then
it can get the Senate for a vote and hopefully
for a signature.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You mentioned it was bipartisan, yes, And I just wanted
to do were people even aware of what was going on?
And what's been the enthusiasm for this to pass into law?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Oh? Absolutely?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
So I like to say that our partners when it
comes to this bill are strange bedfellows. Right on the
Senate side, it's Senator Ed Markey and Senator Ted Cruz,
who are two different types of senators, right, And then
when you think on the House side, we have Congressmen
Gus Billa Rockis from Florida and also Congressman who's the
ranking member Frank Prolonge of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So it's really good to see.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Not only bipartisan support, but also to have colleagues and
both the House and the Senate that are bipartisan.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I'm just trying to think to myself, who would be
against this?
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I mean, it's all different types of people that may
be against it.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You know, there may be manufacturers that may not want
to They may want to monitor their dashboard right, and
so they may not want to have to include AM
radio in vehicles. But it's just so important because, like
I mentioned, it is a lifeline and it's something that
people depend on because they know it's free and that
they'll always have access to it.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Could you imagine the elimination of AM radio a lot
of cars. That would just be a disaster for a
lot of people.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Absolutely, And if you think about climate change and you
think about how we've had more disasters and more things
that are common like AM is so vital.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, that is something. So at this point, it has
a left committee and you're just waiting for it to
go to the full.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We're ready for a full vote.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
If you can get that vote on the House floor,
that's what we're itching towards and I'll say this also,
this is how bipartisan this bill is.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
We've hit three hundred.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
But I think we're going to continue just with the
momentum because so many members of Congress see the need
for AM to be in all the vehicles.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Any indication what the President may do is is there
any any interest from him in this enthusiasm.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I mean he's spoken about the importance of AM radio
and previously conferences before, it's been a discussion that's both
been with Senate leadership and with House leadership.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
So we're hopeful that we can get over to finish line.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Well, we're hopeful that we can turn on the car
and here at radio, that's for sure. I wanted to
ask you because television, I know you're with the National
Association of Broadcasters, and television has kind of been a
lot under fire, especially with the comments from the FCC chairman,
and I just wanted to get your take in terms
(05:40):
of free speech on television.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I think it's so vital and it's so important. Just
last week we observe Constitution Day. Today is Friday. Yesterday
was First Amendment Day, and so when we think about broadcasters,
we think about the importance of free speech and what's
in the constitution. You know, with everything that's been going on,
especially in television broadcasts, just know that that what's vital
(06:07):
to broadcasters and the service that we have is free speech.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I'm curious and there was a time where one group
couldn't own but a handful of stations, and now very
few can own hundreds of stations. I'm just curious what
that does to the whole aspect of free speech.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Absolutely, I mean, I think when you have different owners
and you have more owners than it's a variety of
the type of free speech that you have, and it's
a variety of voices. So you know, at NAB is
so important to us to make sure that the owners
reflect our communities that we're serving, and so that means
that there is a variety of voices that may be
(06:49):
out there. And so you know, when people have an
opportunity to come into the broadcast community, especially as owners,
we know that they are representing various committees throughout the country,
and so that means various voices are being heard.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah, you can make sure the voices are heard. Shars Stansbury,
the National Association of Broadcasters, the AM for Every Vehicle Act.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Thank you so much, Thank you so much, Vanessa.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
I'm Vanessa Tyler reporting at the Congressional Black Caucuses fifty
fourth annual legislative Conference. On the Black Information Network, You're
home for Black News First
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