A bill that would help assure AM radio continues in vehicle dashboards is moving rapidly in Congress, thanks to near-unanimous bipartisan backing. The proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee, with only Michigan Democrat Gary Peters voting against it.
The bill will now be considered by the full Senate, which will not happen until senators return from their month-long August recess. The proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, if passed, would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to create a rule requiring automakers to include AM broadcast radio in their automobiles without charging a separate or additional payment, fee, or penalty. The Government Accountability Office would also be required to investigate whether alternative communication channels could fully replicate AM broadcast radio's reach and efficacy in alerting the public to emergencies.
The National Association of Broadcasters celebrated the vote. “This legislation will ensure that the tens of millions of AM radio listeners across the country retain access to local news, diverse community programming and emergency information,” NAB President Curtis LeGeyt said. “Moreover, this legislation enables AM radio’s continued role as the backbone of the nation’s Emergency Alert System.”
The House version of the bill also remains pending, with similar strong bipartisan support including 70 Republican cosponsors of the bill, with 68 Democrats also backing it.