A bill making its way through Congress will ensure that all new vehicles, electric or otherwise, are outfitted with AM radio receivers and made available without an additional payment, fee or surcharge.
As electric vehicles have become more mainstream, automakers like Tesla and Ford have decided to eliminate AM receivers from the new ones rolling off the assembly lines.
The AM for Every Vehicle Act currently has bipartisan support in both chambers.
“For decades, free AM broadcast radio has been an essential tool in emergencies, a crucial part of our diverse media ecosystem, and an irreplaceable source for news, weather, sports, and entertainment for tens of millions of listeners,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) said. He is one of several senators from both sides of the aisle to sponsor the legislation. “Carmakers shouldn’t tune out AM radio in new vehicles or put it behind a costly digital paywall.”
If passed, the bill would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue the rule on maintaining and providing AM receivers in vehicles without an added expense. Additionally, as part of the law, vehicles without AM radio that are already on the market would be mandated to have a warning label informing buyers of what’s missing included with the vehicle information sticker on the window.
“The importance of AM radio during large-scale emergencies cannot be underestimated, and it has, without a doubt and without interruption, saved lives and kept our communities informed,” Sen. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said. “When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your AM radio.”
Republican support of the bill includes Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Reps. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas.
