AM radio won't die out anytime soon if legislation recently filed in Congress becomes law.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) filed the "AM for Every Vehicle Act" in May, legislation that would direct federal regulators to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in new vehicles at no additional charge.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
Aderholt told 1819 News on Wednesday, "[T]his is a straightforward safety concern for the rural communities that I serve in Washington."
"AM radio is old technology, but it still provides a lot of value and is critical for emergency communications," he added. "Several EV companies have found a work-around to allow the AM radio stations to function in their cars, so we know that it can be done. If EVs are going to live up to their claim to be just as reliable as gas powered vehicles, then they all need to at least support this most basic safety feature."
According to Inside Radio, BMW, Volvo and electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian no longer include analog AM receivers in any of their models.
Ford CEO Jim Farley announced in May the company reversed course on getting rid of AM in new models and is keeping AM radio in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
In a letter to Congress recently, a Volkswagen executive said it took "numerous steps" to avoid removing AM from its EVs, including both hardware and software methods, "but the performance did not meet the quality standards our customers expect."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
