Congress is expected to vote on the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act later this year. The bill requires all new cars to be equipped with an AM radio tuner and accessible to listeners at no additional cost. The proposed legislation comes at a time when several electric vehicle models, including those from Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW and Volvo, do not yet have AM radio available. The reason given is that the electromagnetic signals in electric vehicles result in distorted and inferior sound on AM radio. Other EV models have gotten around the problem by using cable shields or routing the wires in an area that avoids interference from AM radio.

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), a sponsor of the bill, called AM radio “an essential tool in emergencies, a critical part of our diverse media ecosystem and an irreplaceable source of news, weather, sports and entertainment,” reaching tens of millions of listeners. In addition to Congress, keeping AM radio as standard equipment in cars is supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), several state attorneys general, and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

The bill was introduced in Congress at a time when Hurricane Helene was hitting the mainland United States. On September 26, Hurricane Helena caused widespread damage, including power outages and cell towers, as well as destruction of homes and roads. With 227 deaths, Hurricane Helene was the country’s deadliest hurricane since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Two weeks later, Hurricane Milton, another strong hurricane, could become one of the worst storms to hit Florida in more than 100 years, with damage initially estimated of $175 billion.

According to FEMA, AM radio continues to be a primary source for broadcasting emergency warnings. During Hurricane Helene, the hardest hit areas were without power and communications such as cell phones, internet and telephone networks were paralyzed. As a result, broadcasting became the primary communication source for emergency information.

Pete Gaynor, a former FEMA administrator, said on CNN: “Right now it’s about getting the basics that people need to survive, food, water, electricity, telecommunications, making sure they’re getting information and sharing information can… I talk to some of them.” My friends out there, the only way to get information is AM-FM radio. And if you think about it, that’s kind of the last resort that people think about. We take it for granted, but in disasters like this, relying on the really basic AM radio for information is critical.”

Last year, seven former FEMA officials wrote to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging the federal government to keep AM radio in cars. The letter said in part: “If this continues, it poses a serious threat to future local, state and federal disaster response and relief efforts,” said Craig Fugate, who signed the letter Wall Street Journal“When all else fails, radio stations are often the last line of communication for communities.”

FEMA notes that there are 77 AM stations across the country that serve as primary entry points for emergencies. These stations have direct access to FEMA and the National Weather Service (NWS) and cover approximately 90% of the country. There are over 4,000 AM radio stations in the United States

Additionally, in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody co-authored a letter urging Congress to support the bill requiring AM radio in cars. The letter highlights the importance of AM radio during emergencies and natural disasters, including hurricanes in Florida and tornadoes in Iowa. The letter highlighted life-saving safety measures that AM radio continues to provide. Ten other attorneys general from Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia all expressed support for the letter.

NAB has launched a third wave of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) urging Americans to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. These new ads were a call to action, encouraging listeners to text members of Congress to support the bill. NAB previously ran adverts in April and June highlighting the importance of having AM radio in cars.

In an interview with Radio inkAlex Siciliano, SVP Communications, NAB, said: “These spots highlight the important role of broadcasting in providing free entertainment, news, sports, weather and life-saving information in emergencies.” Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest storms in decades, has once again demonstrated the power of broadcasting – one of the few means of communication available when other systems fail.”

Of course, there are some who believe that AM radio, which began broadcasting more than a century ago, has been replaced by newer information technologies. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Center for Automotive Research estimates that passage of this law would cost electric vehicle manufacturers nearly $4 billion in additional costs by 2030. This would be an unfunded mandate paid for by consumers who do not and do not want to use the devices. We don’t need a bailout for the AM radio station. We need a system to expire licenses whose day has passed. In 2009, the FCC declared that AM radio was dying and virtually non-existent among listeners under 35.

Rep. John James (R-MI) noted in a House committee meeting that when the Emergency Alert System (EAS) was tested in 2023, 95% of people received the message via cell phones and only 1% received it via AM radio. In an interview, Rep. James said: “The emergency alert system has never been more robust. The Integrated Public Alert Warning System, IPAWS, broadcasts alerts – in addition to AM radio – via digital AM/FM radio, internet-based radio, satellite radio, and (and) cellular networks.” James has described the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act as “a no “funded, unnecessary mandate for a problem that doesn’t exist.”

With bipartisan support, the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act is well on its way to becoming law. The bill is supported by 262 members of the House of Representatives, well over half of the 218 votes needed for passage. The bill also has 62 U.S. senators as co-sponsors, meaning more than 60 votes, the number needed to avoid a filibuster. Although the bill has the support it needs to become law, it must be passed before Congress adjourns at the end of the year. Otherwise, the bill will have to start again next year. Despite the likelihood of passage, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has not yet scheduled a final vote.