AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act Introduced in Congress

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, May 17, 2023 | 3:12pm CT

U.S. Congress

Senators Ed Markey (MA), Ted Cruz (TX), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Deb Fischer (NE), Ben Ray Luján (NM) and J.D. Vance (OH), and Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Bruce Westerman (AR-4), Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7), Rob Menendez (NJ-8) and Maria Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), introduced legislation Wednesday in response to some automakers taking AM radio out of their new vehicles. The bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to ensure consumer access to AM radio in all vehicles.

Under the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the Secretary of Transportation has one year to establish a standard for all new motor vehicles in the U.S. to come with AM radio reception and playback. This feature should be clearly visible on the vehicle's dashboard. Between the legislation's enactment and the new standard taking effect, cars lacking AM radio receivers must be explicitly labeled for buyers.

NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in a statement, "NAB commends Senators Markey, Cruz, Baldwin, Fischer, Luján and Vance, and Reps. Gottheimer, Westerman, Kean, Menendez and Gluesenkamp Perez, for their leadership in advocating for AM radio listeners. This legislation ensures that the tens of million Americans who depend on AM radio for news, entertainment and critical safety information each month can continue to have access to this reliable communications medium. As the backbone of the Emergency Alert System, AM radio is instrumental in promptly disseminating vital information across all mediums during crises, ensuring that communities remain safe and well-informed. America's local broadcasters applaud the bill's authors and supporters for recognizing AM radio's critical role in our nation's public safety infrastructure."