In July 2023, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel endorsed the Every Vehicle Act bill, which passed the Committee with support from Republican as well as Democrat members. In January 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer proposed that cars lacking AM radio will have a dedicated sticker that says “Warning: No AM Radio. Vehicle Unsafe in Certain Emergencies.” AM radio has 10s of millions of weekly listeners, including agricultural communities relying on AM stations for getting weather reports critical to their business. However, it’s public safety that has taken precedence when it comes to vouching for AM radio in cars.
In a sternly written letter to automakers, Senator Ed Markey claimed that “broadcast AM radio is irreplaceable,” while lambasting these brands for not giving the importance of AM radio kits in cars more attention. Over half a dozen former FEMA administrators also wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation, arguing that if carmakers continue with their offloading, the “vital public safety system” that is AM radio will cease to work as intended.
Lawmakers, on the other hand, are not inclined to let it happen. Secretary Buttegeig, a strong proponent of the AM For Every Vehicle Act, hopes that the rule, if passed, would make it mandatory for all vehicles sold on U.S. soil to offer AM radio functionality. The bill is yet to get official approval in the Senate, but it boasts strong bipartisan support. As of February 2024, it has been sponsored by 206 Congress members, with nearly equivalent strong showing from both Republicans and Democrats in the bill’s favor.
