A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a bill that would require all new cars to include AM radio, as many manufacturers have been phasing it out.
A statement from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said Thursday that Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is the ranking member of the committee, and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), another member of the committee, lead a group of nine more members of Congress from both parties to support the AM for Every Vehicle Act.
The release states that the legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule requiring automakers to keep AM broadcast radios in their vehicles without any additional payment, fee or surcharge.
It would also require automakers that sell vehicles without AM radio access before the bill takes effect to clearly disclose to consumers that the vehicle does not have it and direct the Government Accountability Office to study whether the systems of alternative communications could replicate the reach and effectiveness of AM radio. to alert the population about emergencies.
The introduction of the bill came after reports indicated that manufacturers such as BMW, Volkswagen, Mazda and Tesla are removing AM radio from their vehicles because the electric motors can interfere with the sound of AM stations.
Cruz said in the statement that Congress should quickly pass the bill to ensure the country has access to news, music, talk shows and emergency alerts.
“Every day, millions of Americans turn to AM radio to keep up with life in their community, engage in the issues they care about, or simply be entertained during prime time,” Cruz said. “AM radio is a critical bulwark for democracy, providing a platform for alternative viewpoints and the ability for elected officials to share our efforts with our constituents.”
Markey said free AM radio has been essential for emergency use and as a source of news, weather, sports and entertainment for tens of millions of people for decades.
“Automakers should not disconnect AM radio in new vehicles or put it behind an expensive digital paywall. I am proud to introduce the ‘AM for Every Vehicle Act’ to ensure that this communication tool resilient and popular does not become a relic of the past,” he said.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
