Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County Legislature is unanimous in backing a federal bill requiring new cars, foreign and domestic, to have AM radios.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025 federal legislation requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule requiring AM radio capabilities to be standard in all new passenger vehicles. This specifically applies to passenger vehicles manufactured in the United States for sale in the U.S., imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce, and manufactured after the rule’s effective date. The bill requires all vehicles to have devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM stations or digital audio AM stations.
Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo says keeping AM radio in cars is vital.
"We know that it is possible, even with EV vehicles and hybrids, to put in the proper structures to keep good, reliable AM radio accessible," says Lorigo.
She says it's also vital for emergency services, which rely on that AM radio to get real time news and alerts. Lorigo says she speaks from experience.
"I can tell you, one of our family cars does not have the AM radio in it, and it is a pain. We are frequently trying to use apps like the Audacy app to listen to AM radio. I can tell you that it's not as reliable. when you're driving around, you lose service on your phone and you don't have the AM radio, it's a disconnect."
Fellow Legislator John Bargnesi agrees.
"Not everybody has streaming stations in their car, and I would think especially older generations do not have it, aren't comfortable with it," says Bargnesi.
He says it's especially vital in winter.
"If you're trapped in your car in a blizzard, like it's happened here not that long ago, and your car is running and you have AM radio, it's your lifeline to what's going on if you have a phone that goes dead and you don't have a charger, you have AM radio."
He says many in Western New York are comfortable with it, and the residents expect it.
Eight major automakers, including BMW, Ford, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo have removed broadcast AM radio from their electric vehicles.
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