Editing AM broadcasting (section)

===AM stereo and AMAX standards===
{{Main|AM stereo#Adoption in the United States|AMAX}}
[[File:AMAX radio receiver certification logo.gif|thumb|200px|right|Radios meeting the AMAX standards could display a certification logo, with the "stereo" notation reserved for those capable of AM stereo reception]]

In 1961, the FCC adopted a single standard for FM stereo transmissions, which was widely credited with enhancing FM's popularity. Developing the technology for AM broadcasting in stereo was challenging due to the need to limit the transmissions to a 20&nbsp;kHz bandwidth, while also making the transmissions backward compatible with existing non-stereo receivers.

In 1990, the FCC authorized an AM stereo standard developed by Magnavox, but two years later revised its decision to instead approve four competing implementations, saying it would "let the marketplace decide" which was best.<ref name="stereo"/> The lack of a common standard resulted in consumer confusion and increased the complexity and cost of producing AM stereo receivers.

In 1993, the FCC again revised its policy, by selecting [[C-QUAM]] as the sole AM stereo implementation. In 1993, the FCC also endorsed, although it did not make mandatory, [[AMAX]] broadcasting standards that were developed by the [[Electronic Industries Alliance|Electronic Industries Association]] (EIA) and the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] (NAB) with the intention of helping AM stations, especially ones with musical formats, become more competitive with FM broadcasters by promoting better quality receivers. However, the stereo AM and AMAX initiatives had little impact, and a 2015 review of these events concluded that

<blockquote>Initially the consumer manufacturers made a concerted attempt to specify performance of AM receivers through the 1993 AMAX standard, a joint effort of the EIA and the NAB, with FCC backing...  The FCC rapidly followed up on this with codification of the CQUAM AM stereo standard, also in 1993. At this point, the stage appeared to be set for rejuvenation of the AM band. Nevertheless, with the legacy of confusion and disappointment in the rollout of the multiple incompatible AM stereo systems, and failure of the manufacturers (including the auto makers) to effectively promote AMAX radios, coupled with the ever-increasing background of noise in the band, the general public soon lost interest and moved on to other media.<ref>[https://www.kintronic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/NAB-AM-Receiver-Paper.pdf "Smart AM Receivers for the 21st Century"] by Stephen F. Smith and Thomas F. King, ''Proceedings of the National Association of Broadcasters Engineering Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada'', April 12, 2015, pages 1-2.</ref></blockquote>