New Cars Must Keep AM Radio

Automakers would need to keep AM broadcast radio in new cars under bipartisan legislation advancing again in the Senate — giving a second wind to a push that stalled amid objections from electric vehicle manufacturers.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted by voice on Wednesday to approve legislation (S.315) that would direct the administration to require car manufacturers to install AM radio-capable devices in new passenger vehicles without additional charge.

The measure was sent to the floor as part of the committee’s first markup of legislation this Congress, signaling it as a priority for the new chairman, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), as senators cite communication needs during recent storms as a reason to move forward.

“As we witness more tragic climate change-induced disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles, broadcast AM radio continues to be a critical tool for communication,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), who reintroduced the bill last week with Cruz.

Automakers and the technology industry have lobbied against proposed mandates from Congress, arguing they’ll force costly redesigns while AM radio listenership is down and drivers can get AM programming through digital and satellite services.

The legislation — which advanced out of committee in both chambers last Congress, before stalling — responds to a move from some automakers, such as Tesla Inc. and BMW AG, to remove traditional AM radio receivers from cars, particularly EVs. Cruz’s position as chairman could help the measure advance further this year, but it may face pushback from Trump surrogate and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The carmakers say the electromagnetic signals from the vehicle interfere with the frequencies. John Ohly, head of congressional affairs at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said in a letter to committee members that efforts to mitigate interference would add weight to vehicles and increase costs, estimated at $3.8 billion by 2030.

“This bill would use the blunt tool of congressional legislation to lock in a dying technology, potentially forever,” Ohly said. “Imagine if Congress had once mandated that all vehicles include 8-track cassette players—a technology that quickly became obsolete.”

But AM radio has appealed to lawmakers looking to keep conservative broadcast stations and those who contend it’s needed for emergencies. Attorneys general in states affected by hurricanes and other disasters have pleaded with lawmakers to pass the legislation to keep AM radio in cars as a way to communicate during emergencies.

Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) have been leading bipartisan backers of the legislative push in the House.