NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt has championed several moves in the media industry. He believes we could see changes in 2026 on those issues.
What We Know: The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was introduced almost three years ago, to the day. The NAB has continually touted the bipartisan support the bill has received. But the piece of legislation remains unsigned. The NAB has also previously shared that local ownership rules need to be modernized to allow for more competition. In a podcast appearance with RAB President Mike Hulvey, Curtis LeGeyt shared his belief that there could be movement this year on both.
What They Said: “I am very optimistic that we are going to get some modernization of these local radio ownership rules as well as passage of the AM for Every Vehicle Act this year … The exact timing on that’s a little above my pay grade. Because, unfortunately, I don’t have a vote in Congress. And I certainly don’t have one at the FCC. But I can tell you just based on the level of engagement and want to break through this on behalf of our champions in Washington, DC, including the chairman of the FCC on this issue of ownership, very, very confident on where we are.”
What Remains Unclear: What steps members of Congress need to push The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to a vote. It has been passed by two Senate committees and reintroduced in 2025. But still has not received a full vote.
What It Means: LeGeyt has long been optimistic about the potential passage of that bill. He’s also shared his stance that the ownership limits need to be reassessed. To say that he’s “very confident” about the potential for movement on each should bring some optimism to the industry.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
