Monty Tayloe, Associate Editor, covers broadcasting and the Federal Communications Commission for Communications Daily. He joined Warren Communications News in 2013, after spending 10 years covering crime and local politics for Virginia regional newspapers and a turn in television as a communications assistant for the PBS NewsHour. He’s a Virginia native who graduated Fork Union Military Academy and the College of William and Mary. You can follow Tayloe on Twitter: @MontyTayloe .

Broadcasters seeking an AM radio requirement for cars are counting on bipartisan support and public safety concerns to carry the day, but opponents argue Ford’s recent reversal (see 2305230047) shows legislation to mandate the technology like the AM for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669) isn't needed. It would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule mandating AM radio access in new vehicles. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, is withholding deciding on whether such legislation is needed pending the outcome of a planned early June hearing on the issue.Read More >>

“Nobody really knows what the FCC was thinking,” said Tegna CEO Dave Lougee Thursday on the company’s first earnings call since it agreed in 2021 to be bought by Standard General. Standard hasn’t responded to requests for comment on the deal’s termination, but it told the FCC in a Wednesday status filing it's ready to continue with the hearing process even without a deal at stake. “Standard General remains prepared to vindicate its rights as necessary, including through participation in the hearing and attendant discovery process.” The FCC, other parties in the case and the administrative law judge are more likely to view the matter as moot, said broadcast attorneys, who don’t expect the hearing to move forward. Tegna and Cox Media Group told the FCC Thursday that they wouldn't participate further in the hearing.Read More >>

Ford Motor announced the company won’t remove AM radio from its cars in the U.S. after getting pushback from lawmakers and broadcasters. “After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we’ve decided to include it” in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln models, Ford CEO Jim Farley tweeted Tuesday. “In light of Ford’s announcement, NAB urges other automakers who have removed AM radio from their vehicles to follow Ford’s lead and restore this technology in the interest of listeners and public safety,” said NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt. Carmakers such as BMW and Tesla said AM won’t be in some models. “Broadcasters will continue to support this major legislation to ensure consumer access to AM radio in all vehicles," NAB said.Read More >>

Standard General provided additional information to the FCC about the promises it made for the deal for Tegna and on its offer to eventually buy Apollo Global Management’s shares in new Tegna, it said in a news release Wednesday. “We are continuing to work hard to ensure the FCC has all of the information they need to allow a vote on our deal with TEGNA,” said Standard General Founding Partner Soohyung Kim.Read More >>

Many low-power TV broadcasters want the FCC to consider alternatives to Nielsen for determining broadcaster markets, and nearly every commenter objects to an agency proposal to base a station’s ability to maintain Class A status on its market not growing to over 95,000 households, according to numerous filings -- many nearly identical -- on FCC’s proposals for implementation of the Low Power Protection Act in docket 23-126. NAB joined the objections to the Class A language but said changing the designated market area (DMA) system could disrupt the ATSC 3.0 transition. “Expanding DMA definitions in this manner could have ramifications concerning network and syndicated programming exclusivity and cable carriage, and could inadvertently hinder the transition to ATSC 3.0 in nearby larger markets,” NAB said.Read More >>