WASHINGTON — A bipartisan bill that would prevent automakers from eliminating AM broadcast radio in new vehicles now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
The Democratic-led Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday advanced the bill, known as the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which directs the Transportation Department to issue a rule requiring automakers to keep AM radio receivers in new vehicles as standard equipment.
A modified version of the bill allows the department to establish an effective compliance date within two to three years of a rule being issued. Automakers that made 40,000 or fewer passenger vehicles in 2022 would have at least four years to comply, according to the text.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., was the only committee member to vote against the bill.
“Our important bill will ensure that all vehicles, including electric vehicles, are equipped with AM radio and have access to critical alerts during emergencies,” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said during the committee markup.
The bill — opposed by major automakers and other industry and technology groups — has been steadily gaining support and is now co-sponsored by at least 27 Democratic and Republican senators.
In the House, a bill by the same name led by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., has 137 co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle.
“Americans rely on a radio to provide them with safety alerts, news, talk radio and music. Unfortunately, several automakers have announced plans to take this important resource out of cars. That’s a big mistake,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told committee members.
At least seven automakers — BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo — do not offer broadcast AM radio in their electric vehicles, citing electromagnetic interference from EV batteries that can generate static, a high-frequency hum and other noise, and affect the reception of AM radio signals.
Ford Motor Co. previously said it would not include AM radio in any of its new models starting in 2024 but reversed course in May “after speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system.”
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Zero Emission Transportation Association, Consumer Technology Association and TechNet oppose the legislation.
In a letter sent May 22 to Markey, Gottheimer and other lawmakers, the groups argued the AM radio mandate would “unnecessarily hinder progress in the automotive industry” and “has no bearing on the ability of drivers to receive emergency alerts.”
They argue drivers can access digital AM programming through streaming and satellite radio systems and can still receive alerts through the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System in real time.
If Congress were to pass the mandate, it would “impede domestic EV manufacturing by demanding significant drivetrain redesigns and signal interference paneling,” The Zero Emission Transportation Association, whose members include Tesla, Rivian and Lucid, wrote in a policy brief.
“In turn, this would add weight to the vehicle and cost the U.S. billions of dollars in decreased economic output and job loss,” the group said.
