What May Be Broadcast on AM Radio

If you operate an ALERT AM, Information Station, ITS6000 Highway Advisory Radio Station, RoadRunnR Portable Advisory Radio Station or RESPONDER1 Mobile Emergency Broadcast System, it is important to know what may (and may not) be broadcasted, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). When first written back in the 1970s, FCC rules, clear enough then, may now seem cloudy in day-to-day programming decisions. Here are summary guidelines.

Permitted Content

Perhaps the easiest thing to remember is that all FCC-licensed advisory radio station broadcasts must be voice-only, noncommercial. Types of information that generally may be broadcast:

	Traffic and road conditions.
	Traffic hazards.
	Travel advisories.
	Directions.
	Availability of lodging.
	Rest stops.
	Service stations.
	Descriptions of local points of interest.
	Trade name identification of carriers to facilitate announcements concerning departures/arrivals, parking areas at air, train and bus terminals.
	How to get to not-for-profit or community events that charge admission.

You must broadcast your call-sign a minimum of once every half-hour.

Related Links

ISS offers audio recording services for newly purchased ISS radio stations at no charge during the first 30 days of operation. Thereafter, ISS voices can continue make your messages sound crisp, current and professional. Click here to see our Recording Services webpage, which offers sample sound bites.
ISS products at a glance - webpage.
AM/FM comparison of what may be broadcast - webpage.

How to Handle Points of Confusion

Clearly, not all broadcast situations can be anticipated.

Here's a helpful hint: Ask, Whom the activity will profit?

If making the broadcast directly benefits a profit-oriented business in a way that would clearly increase its profits, it is safest NOT to broadcast the information on AM Advisory Radio Stations

It's NOT okay to broadcast these 3 things, which the FCC says are off limits:

Identifying commercial names or business establishments.
Commercial messages in general.
Music.

This page was last updated: May 06, 2008.