Congress this month took a significant step toward requiring AM radio in every new car in the United States.
A bill to require the move passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with wide bipartisan support.
The AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act would require AM radio access, free of charge, in every new vehicle sold in the U.S.
AM Radio Is Disappearing From Cars
Some new 2024 cars come without AM radio — mostly electric vehicles (EVs).
Industry publication Automotive News explains, “Some companies, including Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo Cars, and BMW, are eliminating the frequency in EVs.” The companies claim that the electric motors in EVs and hybrids can interfere with AM signals, leaving listeners with staticky, low-quality sound.
However, some competitors have solved the problem.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV all come with an AM receiver as standard equipment. Those cars use cable shielding or careful placement of wires to get around the problem of electromagnetic interference.
Emergency Officials Concerned
The issue has the attention of federal emergency response officials. Last year, seven former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) leaders signed a letter raising alarm about the lack of AM radio in new cars.
The federal government’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) relies on AM radio to broadcast messages nationwide during a crisis. AM radio systems can broadcast across great distances with little interference. Radio receivers are likely to work even in many emergencies that could break or overwhelm cell phone communication, the group wrote.
Ford returned the AM band to many of its cars after the letter.
Likely to Pass
The bill appears almost certain to pass this year. A House version has 262 cosponsors — more than the 218 votes required for passage.
A Senate version of the bill has 62 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate — a filibuster-proof majority.
“With hurricane season in full swing, it has never been more important to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and ensure that this life-saving communication tool remains in vehicles,” bill co-author Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said in a statement.
Representative John James (R-Mich.) remains part of the limited opposition, telling the Detroit News, “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, (and) cellular networks.”
James called the bill “an unfunded, unnecessary mandate for a problem that doesn’t exist.”
