AM and FM Commercial Totals Dip Again in FCC’s Delayed Report

AM and FM Commercial Totals Dip Again in FCC’s Delayed Report

Delayed by the government shutdown that halted most federal reporting, the FCC broadcast totals for Q3 2025 show slight growth, but continue to trace a clear divide between declining AM and commercial FM and a fast-growing noncommercial sector.

FCC Releases Latest Station Count

Credit: Getty Images/dubassy The number of noncommercial FM stations in the United States continues to break records every three months. The FCC this week released its latest totals. There were 4,730 licensed noncoms or “educational FMs” at the end of September, which is 41 more than at the end of June of this year and 353 more than in September 2024.  The Federal Communications Commission conducted an application window for new noncom FM statio…

Data Dump: AM Station Totals Decline; Little Change for FM, TV

The FCC’s latest quarterly station totals shows a continued decline in the number of AM stations, while the number of FM and full-power TV stations is remaining largely steady. There were 4,343 licensed AM stations as of Sept. 30, down 17 from the June 30 total. The current total is more than 600 stations below the all-time high of 4,990 AM stations reached in 1991. While online FCC records do not include totals for every year, it appears the nu…