House to Vote on Mandating AM Radio in All New U.S. Vehicles
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979) during the week of September 14. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) in the House, and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in the Senate (S. 315), aims to require the U.S. Department of Transportation to mandate AM broadcast radio as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States. This would be at no additional cost to consumers. The push for this legislation began after several major automakers, particularly electric vehicle manufacturers, started removing AM radios from new car models, citing electromagnetic interference from EV drivetrains as a reason for disrupted audio quality. Broadcasting organizations nationwide are actively lobbying for the bill's passage.
