Your new car has all the usual glossy new entertainment technology, but you’re in the old favorite mood. Skip past the satellite radio and Bluetooth connection buttons to adjust life-saving alerts in constantly reliable news, sports and even in crisis.
That’s when it hits you: There’s no AM radio.
Remember the 1960s when seat belts were not the norm. The automakers fought the orders and called them cost and unnecessary.
As I reported here before, automakers like Tesla, Ford and BMW have quietly dropped AM radios in their cars for years.
But don’t turn that dial yet.
Reception is bad
All Vehicle Act AM Radio is heading for the Senate vote after liquidating the Commerce Committee on February 5th. With bipartisan support and approval from FCC Chairman Brendanker, the bill can ensure AM Radio stays in all new cars.
But why is this even a battle?
It starts with the cost. Adding an AM receiver will only make a few dollars per vehicle, but multiplying it by millions of cars and hitting the final result.
Next is the technical angle. Electric vehicles dominate the future, and AM signals can be scrambled by the electromagnetic hum of the EV battery and motor, creating annoying static.
Furthermore, they claim that AM is outdated and unnecessary as the dashboard turns into a touchscreen and younger buyers stream music and podcasts via Bluetooth.
Automakers want to upsell you with satellite radio subscriptions or an internet-connected infotainment system. This is an option to fill the profits but leave you without an AM signal if necessary.
The question is that rural roads and disaster zones don’t care about your Wi-Fi plans and where does that go?
The last resort
I’m tracking this on congress.gov. Senate Bill 315 resigned from the committee this month to vote on floors. It is said to “request the Transport Secretary to issue rules to ensure passenger vehicles access to broadcasting stations.”
If you pass, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require that the automaker include AM radios on all vehicles sold in the United States. Cars without it must be clearly labelled until that rule begins.
The National Broadcasting Agency Association supported progress and pointed to disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles and Hurricane Helen. Over 125 groups, from the US Farm Bureau to AARP, support this by citing safety and access to the community.
“Today’s votes broadcast a clear message to automakers that AM radio is an essential tool for millions,” said Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) of the Commerce Committee.
“I saw it in person after Hurricane Helene – when everything else was down, people were relying on AM,” FCC chairman Brendan Kerr said.
Audio seat belt
This bill is bigger than just radio. It concerns innovation, safety and the role of government in the automotive industry. Remember the 1960s when seat belts were not the norm. The automakers fought the orders and called them cost and unnecessary. Today, Am Radio is a seat belt for communication. Low-tech, certainly, but proven lifesaver.
If passed the Senate, regulators could set precedents that prioritize public goods over corporate trends, and perhaps even tweak automakers to rethink other cuts.
Tech’s March advancement signaled that there’s no need to leave credibility, especially as disasters make resilient tools more important than ever.
Static from the lobbyist
Unfortunately, this bill has some hurdles to overcome. Automakers are not quietly accepting this. They have deep pockets and powerful lobbyists, and groups like the Alliance for Automotive Innovation could rely on the senator to dye it or kill it. They may argue that not all buyers want and that it is unfair to force EVs to require exemptions for technical reasons.
Then there’s the Senate itself – smooth ones are normal, and the budget fight and post-election attitude make voting on the floor can easily be delayed. Even supporters have admitted it has faced a delay before. Despite widespread support, previous versions were never handed over in Congress. What’s the difference now? Prominent disasters and bipartisan unity may just lean on scale.
AM is the backbone of the emergency alert system and is a resilient lifeline when counting local news, diverse voices, and important information. As the bill competes, it’s a sign that it could soon become law unless the opponents change gears.
