Senate Backs AM Radio Bill with Ted Cruz Leading the Fight
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in the US have given overwhelming bipartisan support to a bill aimed at requiring automakers to include AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no extra charge. Senate Republicans, led by Ted Cruz, championed the law, stating that AM radio serves a critical function during emergencies by providing important information to the public. The bill also received strong support from Democrats, with only one Democrat, Gary Peters, voting against it. Amy Klobuchar, who led committee Democrats, emphasized the importance of protecting AM radio for communities. The legislation is one step closer to becoming law, as it will now advance to the full Senate for consideration. The National Association of Broadcasters expressed its pleasure with the bill, stating that it will ensure that millions of AM radio listeners retain access to local news, community programming, and emergency information. The bill also requires automakers to disclose if their vehicles do not have access to AM broadcast radio, and directs the Government Accountability Office to study the effectiveness of AM radio for alerting the public to emergencies. Ford, one of the automakers criticized for removing AM radios from their vehicles, recently reversed this decision and announced that AM radio would be offered in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln model vehicles.
