Car AM Radio Bill Passes House Panel

 

A panel of U.S. House lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would force automakers to install AM radio in all new cars.

The measure, titled the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, advanced through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with broad bipartisan support. The only lawmaker to express outspoken opposition was Republican U.S. Rep. John James.

"I feel like I'm taking crazy pills," James said during the committee meeting. "We're putting an unfunded, unnecessary mandate for a problem that doesn't exist. This is exactly why people hate Washington."

Republican and Democratic lawmakers from both the House and Senate have advocated since early 2023 for a requirement that automakers keep AM radio in all new vehicles, especially as some companies — including Tesla Inc., Volkswagen AG, Volvo Cars and BMW AG — are eliminating the frequency from electric vehicles because battery motors interfere with signals.

Ford Motor Co. previously had plans to exclude AM radio from all new vehicles but reversed course after opposition from the public and policymakers.

Advocates for AM radio have said it is crucial for reaching people during weather emergencies and holds a special place in American culture as a longtime home for sports broadcasts and conservative talk shows.

James said the safety concern is overblown thanks to new developments in emergency preparedness.

"The Emergency Alert System has never been more robust. The Integrated Public Alert Warning System, IPAWS, pushes alerts through — in addition to AM radio — through digital AM/FM radio, internet-based radio, satellite radio, cellular networks," he said.

James continued: "Following a test of the system last fall, 95% of Americans reported getting that alert via their cellphones. You know how many people got it on AM radio? One percent. Over 98% of new cars today already come with AM radio, and even if they were phased out from every single new vehicle today, it would take 30 years to have no AM radio. So what are we even doing here?"

The auto industry has also opposed the requirement, with one top lobbying group previously calling it a "mandate" that is "unnecessary and contrary to the principles of a free-market economy."

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the industry's leading voice for regulatory affairs, made that statement in a May 2023 letter to lawmakers.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) commends the House Energy and Commerce Committee for its strong bipartisan passage, by a roll call vote of 45-2, of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act out of committee today. 

“NAB is grateful for the leadership of Chairs Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Gus Bilirakis, Ranking Members Frank Pallone and Jan Schakowsky and the committee members for their recognition of AM radio’s unique and vital role in protecting public safety,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “As one of the most reliable and resilient communications platforms, AM radio continues to be a lifeline for communities in times of emergency. We urge congressional leadership to ensure this bill moves forward and becomes law, safeguarding AM radio’s indispensable service to the public.”