AM Radio Act Clears Hurdle

The effort to require AM to remain in vehicles sold in the U.S. has passed another legislative checkpoint.

The bill that would ensure dashboards offer AM has secured the necessary 60 supporters in the Senate, ensuring it could overcome any potential hold on a floor vote.

The milestone came in bipartisan fashion, as Senators Ashely Moody (R-FL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined as co-sponsors in recent days.

If passed, the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 315) 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.

The Senate bill is sponsored by Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA), who first joined forces in May 2023 on the effort.

In a joint statement, Markey and Cruz says the addition of the 60th co-sponsor demonstrates the broad, bipartisan support for what they see as a “commonsense” proposal.