Around New England

AM Radio In Every Car? Ed Markey Says Yes

September 20, 2024

U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) recently expressed his approval after the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee’s voted to recommend the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

This bipartisan bill aims to require that AM radio remains a standard feature in new vehicles.

The bill has strong bipartisan support and passed in the committee 45-2. The U.S. House can now vote to pass it, as can the U.S. Senate because the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted to recommend the bill on a voice vote in July 2023.

“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,” Markey said in a press release from his office. “I applaud the Energy and Commerce Committee for its overwhelming vote to advance this essential bill and look forward to working with our House and Senate colleagues to enact this bipartisan, public safety legislation into law.”

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was introduced in response to a growing trend among automakers to exclude AM radio from new vehicle models. This shift has raised concerns about the ability to broadcast crucial emergency information during natural disasters or other crises, according to The Verge.

If enacted, the bill would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to keep AM broadcast radio in their vehicles at no additional cost to consumers. It also would mandate that any automaker selling vehicles without AM radio before the regulation’s effective date must inform consumers of the absence. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office would conduct a study on the role of AM radio in emergency communication, according to a press release from Markey’s office.

The push for this legislation gained momentum after Markey, along with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), introduced the bill in May 2023. The introduction followed a letter from Markey to 20 leading carmakers, requesting that they maintain AM radio in their vehicles. Out of the 20 carmakers contacted, eight acknowledged having removed AM radio from their electric vehicle models. This response underscored the growing concern that eliminating AM radio could compromise public safety during emergencies.

Automakers like Tesla, Polestar, and Rivian have been at the forefront of this trend, arguing that AM radio is incompatible with electric vehicles because of electromagnetic interference from their powertrains. Tesla, for example, removed AM radio from its vehicles in 2018, citing interference. However, Ford, after initially launching the 2024 Mustang without AM radio, reversed its decision in response to backlash from lawmakers and the public, according to The Verge.

The debate over AM radio’s place in modern vehicles highlights a broader discussion about the relevance of older technologies in the face of new advancements. While some argue that AM radio is outdated and that newer technologies like Internet streaming and high-definition radio offer superior alternatives, others believe that AM radio remains a vital tool for emergency communication.

Many conservatives also support the bill in order to protect talk radio, which often skews right and is hosted on AM stations, according to Inside Radio. For example, talk show hosts Howie Carr, Jeff Kuhner, and Grace Curley are on WRKO 860 AM — a conservative talk radio station based in Boston.

Critics of the bill argue that the mandate could increase production costs for electric vehicles, which already have high costs.

The bill has 62 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate and 261 co-sponsors in the U.S. House — more than enough support to become law if each chamber brings it up for a vote.

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