In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to require automakers to include AM radio in all new passenger vehicles without extra cost to consumers. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate the technology as standard equipment.
The legislation, which now moves to the Senate, passed with overwhelming support after years of lobbying by proponents who argued that AM radio provides critical emergency information due to its long-distance signal capabilities. The push has gained momentum from a coalition spanning Democrats, Republicans, broadcast industry groups, emergency responders, and former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrators.
Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who co-sponsored the Senate version of the bill, celebrated the House vote. Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, noted that they have secured 60 co-sponsors, meeting the threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
“This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles,” Markey and Cruz said in a joint statement. “From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans.”
The drive for a mandate comes as an increasing number of manufacturers have phased out traditional AM receivers in favor of software-defined vehicles and streaming services like TuneIn and SiriusXM. Electric vehicle makers have been particularly swift to remove the hardware, citing electromagnetic interference from electric motors that can degrade AM signal quality and audio performance.
Several major brands, including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo, currently do not include traditional AM radio. Ford removed the feature from some models earlier but has since reversed that decision. Tesla does not offer AM receivers in the base versions of its Model 3 and Model Y, while Rivian’s new R2 SUV lacks both FM and AM hardware, though it provides AM/FM content via the iHeartRadio digital platform at no cost.
Does this include EVs? Tesla removed it due to interference. Hope the Senate address those engineering hurdles properly.
Really? We’re mandating obsolete tech in 2024? The NHTSA needs better solutions than dusty analog waves.
Finally, someone fights for emergency radio! Streaming fails when the grid goes down. This is a lifesaver.