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AM Radio Bill Clears Key Hurdle, Path Ahead Murky

- Support Grows for AI Protections, NO FAKES Act

Legislation ensuring AM Radio remains available in American passenger vehicles cleared a key hurdle last week as the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the measure with near unanimous support, with the six Texans on the panel all voting in favor.

The measure enjoys strong majority support in the House with 261 co-sponsors – 20 of them from Texas – and a filibuster-proof 63 co-sponsors in the Senate where Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is co-authoring the measure with his political polar opposite, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

Now the measure, along with a raft of other similarly popular measures approved by the committee the same day, awaits a broader, must-pass bill, such as a spending bill, to make its way to President Joe Biden’s desk by year-end.

In the meantime, Texas Radio broadcasters are encouraged to express their thanks to the six Texans – some co-sponsors, some not – who voted to advance the AM Radio bill out of committee last week, including:

AI Protections in NO FAKES Act Gain Support

TAB last week joined its counterparts representing all other 49 states, DC and Puerto Rico in signaling support for legislation that would, in part, protect the voice and visual likeness of all individuals, including the most trusted broadcast news anchors and local on-air personalities, from unauthorized computer-generated recreations made by generative AI.

The bill would also provide important exclusions for use of digital replicas in certain bona fide news reporting and broadcasting, as well as commentary, criticism, scholarship satire, parody, and other First Amendment speech.

The “Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (“NO FAKES”) Act of 2024 would create a federal remedy for individuals to fight back against abusive and manipulative deepfakes that threaten to disrupt the trust local broadcasters have earned from their communities.

While some similar state laws, such as the ELVIS Act in Tennessee, would still stand, the new federal legislation would override other state legislation passed after Jan. 2.

A discussion draft of the bill recently won support from a diverse group of creatives and their advocacy organizations, such as the NAB, the Motion Picture Association, the Human Artistry Campaign, major talent agencies, and others.
The legislation is under consideration by the Judiciary committees in both chambers and Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, is the first Texan to sign on as a co-sponsor.  Other Texans on the House committee include:

  • Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso
  • Lance Gooden, R-Terrell
  • Wesley Hunt, R-Houston
  • Troy Nehls, R-Richmond
  • Rep. Chip Roy, R-Wimberley

Sen. Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn, Texas’ senior senator, both serve on the Senate panel.

The NO FAKES Act could be passed by year’s end if it’s attached to a must-pass vehicle, but it would need to garner robust bipartisan support in both chambers first.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.


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