Pushback against auto manufacturers attempts to remove AM radios from new vehicles continue.
If passed, the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act (Senate Bill 1669) would require the Department of Transportation to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations as standard equipment.
Brian Winnekins, a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting at station WRDN in Wisconsin, said AM is a critical piece of technology for rural residents.
“If you do not have FM service, you rely on AM. That's it,” he said. “In our area of western Wisconsin, yes, we have an FM signal, but because of the bluffs and terrain, there are listeners to our AM signal three miles from our FM tower.”
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Emergency management groups such as Big City Emergency Managers, International Association of Fire Chiefs and more added their support to the bill, as AM radio stations often play a crucial role in informing rural residents about incoming weather and emergency alerts.
Luxury car manufactures such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz first began to remove AM radios from vehicles in Europe in 2016. Last year, Ford announced it would no longer manufacture vehicles with AM radios, then retracted the move after consumer complaints.
Winnekins said while he understands why the mandate is needed, he wants to see tighter regulations on manufacturers.
“This bill has no receiver standards,” he said. “The car companies in effect, they want you the consumer to pay a fee, a subscription service for audio entertainment, period. Free, over the air radio prohibits that. So, if there's no receiver standards, they're going to put the worst sounding receivers in vehicles.”
The legislation is cosponsored by 14 Senators and House Representatives on both sides of the aisle. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Nathan Simington endorsed the bill as well.
