Just hours after a Senate committee cleared the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act on Wednesday, a companion bill was introduced in the House. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) dropped the bill that like its Senate counterpart would require automakers to include AM in all passenger vehicles.
“In order to maximize public safety and ensure continued access to every available option, it is critical to have a robust and widely accessible communication infrastructure in place to alert Americans during emergency situations and natural disasters,” said Bilirakis, who is the chair of the House Commerce Committee. He says AM Radio is critical since rural and underserved Americans alike rely on it for the diverse viewpoints found the dial. “Radio broadcast still has one of the highest reaches of any medium, and with a majority of listening taking place outside of the home, we must ensure this useful tool remains a readily available option for all Americans who own vehicles,” Bilirakis said.
Similar to the previous bill, the latest proposal requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles. If they don’t, carmakers could be fined. Before the effective date of the rule, manufacturers who do not include AM would be required to put a warning label on vehicles. And carmakers would be prohibited from charging extra for AM.
Under the bill (H.R. 979), automakers would have had at least two years to comply with the rule, although some manufacturers that produce fewer than 40,000 passenger cars for sale in the U.S. would have at least four years to meet the requirement. The proposal would also direct the Government Accountability Office to study whether alternative communication systems could fully replicate the reach and effectiveness of AM broadcast radio for alerting the public to emergencies.
“AM radio provides a broad variety of programming and lifesaving information during emergencies, and that’s why it’s critical we ensure all Americans can access it from their cars,” Pallone said. He has been an outspoken advocate for broadcast radio ever since Superstorm Sandy devastated parts of New Jersey in 2012. “New Jerseyans turned to trusted AM radio stations for critical and time sensitive alerts,” Pallone says. “I’m pleased to once again introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Bilirakis and will work to get it signed into law this year.”
In the last Congress, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the bill by a decisive 45-2 vote, and it garnered support from over 250 House members and more than 125 third-party organizations. But the bill failed to get across the finish line in either the House or Senate. This time may be different.
The Senate Commerce Committee approved the bill (S. 315) on Wednesday just a week after it was introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA), and currently has 47 cosponsors. The success sends the bill to the full Senate for a vote.
The National Association of Broadcasters welcomed the introduction of the House bill and urged congressional leadership to keep the momentum going.
“AM radio is a proven lifeline during emergencies and a trusted source of news, sports and community programming for millions of listeners,” said NAB President Curtis LeGeyt. “We urge swift House passage of this bipartisan legislation to protect this vital local service.”
While the Federal Communications Commission would have no role in the decision, Chair Brendan Carr is also urging members of Congress to act.
“Just last week, I visited parts of North Carolina that had been hit hard by Hurricane Helene,” Carr said. “I heard firsthand the stories of people that could only access lifesaving information in the days following the storm by tuning their radios to the AM band.”