How DST Impacts Daytime AM Stations

Daylight Saving Time (DST) resumed across most of the United States on Sunday  at 2:00 a.m. local time, when clocks "sprang forward" one hour to 3:00 a.m. This annual shift, mandated by federal law since adjustments in 2007, extends evening daylight but shortens the morning period, affecting sleep patterns and daily routines for millions.

For U.S. radio broadcasters, particularly those operating on the AM band, the time change directly impacts operational compliance with FCC rules. Many AM stations are licensed as daytime-only (Class D or similar), meaning they are authorized to broadcast only from local sunrise to local sunset to minimize interference from skywave propagation at night. Others hold pre-sunrise authorization (PSRA) or post-sunset authorization (PSSA), allowing limited-power operation in the two hours before sunrise or after sunset, respectively, with power caps typically at 500 watts (not exceeding daytime limits).

The spring-forward adjustment shifts local sunrise and sunset times later by one hour on the clock. 

As a result:

• Daytime-only AM stations must delay their sign-on until the new (later) local sunrise, potentially reducing morning drive-time coverage when listener demand is high.
• Stations with PSRA must recalibrate pre-sunrise start times to align with the updated local clock (e.g., provisions in FCC rules like §73.99 account for DST shifts to ensure consistent local-time operation).
• Post-sunset operations similarly adjust for the delayed sunset.

The FCC routinely reminds licensees of these requirements around DST transitions, emphasizing verification of authorized parameters to avoid violations. Broadcasters often use FCC tools or recalculated authorizations (updated in recent years) to determine precise quarter-hour power increments during these periods.

This timing coincides with broader industry dynamics in early 2026. The FCC's ongoing 2022 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of broadcast ownership rules—focusing on local radio limits, among others—continues with comments and replies processed into early 2026, fueling discussions on potential rollbacks to allow greater consolidation amid competitive pressures from digital media. 

Opportunistic station dealmaking gained momentum, with BIA Advisory Services reporting 36 radio stations traded in January 2026 (more than double the prior year's pace), totaling around $15.7 million in filings, including notable multi-station deals in Arkansas and single high-value sales like a Providence-market FM.