Updated at 1:35pm Eastern
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At long last, the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. It now awaits a vote in the U.S. Senate, where it enjoys widespread support. As the industry awaits a date and time for a hoped-for full Senate floor vote, the National Association of Broadcasters and one key supporter of the legislation cheered the House’s late Tuesday approval of the bill. So did the head of iHeartMedia, which owns more AM properties than any of its peers, also applauded the affirmative House vote.
“Today’s decisive House passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is a significant step forward for the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio for lifesaving emergency information, trusted news and a vital connection to their communities,” NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said late Tuesday, hours before twin deadly incidents in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles gripped the region, leading many to tune to KNX-AM 1070 or KFI-AM 640 for the latest information.
LeGeyt added that “America’s broadcasters are deeply grateful to House leadership, lead co-sponsors Reps. Bilirakis and Pallone and the overwhelming bi-partisan coalition” that made Tuesday’s vote possible. “We look forward to continuing our work with the Senate bill authors and their more than 60 bi-partisan cosponsors to advance this critical public safety legislation and send it to the president’s desk,” LeGeyt said.
Meanwhile, the man who owns the Gristedes supermarket chain across the Big Apple and serves as Chairman/CEO of Red Apple Media says he’s glad “that common sense has prevailed in Washington, D.C.”
For John Catsimatidis, “The American people are on the side of common sense.”
With advertisements in the New York Post, Catsimatidis invested heavily in getting supporters of his WABC Radio and of local AM radio to call on Congress to get the AM Radio in Every Vehicle passed.
On Tuesday, iHeartMedia Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman released a statement calling the passage of the bill “a significant victory for public safety, local communities and the millions of Americans who rely on AM radio every day.” While the company’s iHeartRadio app is becoming more and more ubiquitous in vehicles, iHeartMedia is also reliant on kHz-band listening for many spoken word radio stations — in some markets the home for conservative News/Talk programming that in many ways has helped elected politicians on Capitol Hill get to Washington.
Pittman also said that iHeartMedia applauds the House leadership “and the overwhelming bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who came together to advance this legislation, and thank them for recognizing what emergency managers, first responders, farmers, truckers, tribes and tens of millions of Americans have long understood: AM radio remains an essential source of local emergency information, news, weather alerts, and community connection — and sometimes the only resource available in times of crisis and disaster.”
He continued that, for more than a century, broadcast radio has been there when Americans need it most. “Today, during natural disasters, power outages and other emergencies, AM radio continues to serve as a trusted lifeline, delivering critical information when other communications networks may be disrupted — all at no cost to consumers,” Pittman said in singling out Bilirakis and Pallone. “Most importantly, we recognize and appreciate the countless listeners across the country who have made their voices heard by telling their elected representatives to ‘Keep AM Radio In Our Cars.’ We look forward to working with the Senate Leadership and lead sponsors Senators Markey and Cruz, to finish the job, send this legislation to the President’s desk, and ensure AM radio remains available to listeners and communities across America.”
Speaking of the senators, Markey and Cruz also celebrated the House’s passage of the Act.
“This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles,” they said in a joint statement distributed Wednesday. “From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans. It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country.”
The legislation passed through the Senate Commerce Committee in February 2025.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring AM radio capabilities to be standard in all new passenger vehicles. This “mandate” has come under fierce opposition from the Gary Shapiro-led Consumer Technology Association and a slew of U.S. automotive companies, who believe the government should not dictate what technology they include in cars and trucks manufactured and sold in the U.S.
Specifically, the law would apply to passenger vehicles that are also imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce; and manufactured after the rule’s effective date.
Prior to the rule’s effective date, manufacturers that do not include devices that can access AM radio as standard equipment must inform purchasers of this fact through clear and conspicuous labeling, and may not charge an additional or separate fee for AM radio access.
The Act means the DOT may assess civil penalties for any violation of the rule. The Department of Justice may also bring a civil action to enjoin a violation.
Importantly, there is a 10-year sunset date following the bill’s enactment for the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act — perhaps a sign that, come 2036, the kHz band could fade out, short a technological revolution being championed by Hubbard Radio’s Dave Kolesar and his use of HD Radio on a digital-only AM radio facility.
The Act also requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report on the dissemination of emergency alerts to the public, including by conducting an assessment of AM broadcast stations relative to other Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) communication technologies.
