bernard
THEE Realist
Bill proposing the requirement now heads to expected Senate passage after House overwhelmingly approves it
U.S. automakers have been eager to consign AM radio to the history books. Instead, they have triggered the nearly unthinkable: a bipartisan push from Congress to save the century-old broadcast band.
An ensemble of advocates, including broadcasters and former federal emergency officials, have been pressing lawmakers for years to mandate AM radio after automakers such as Tesla, Volvo and BMW stopped providing those tuners in new models. Their push is working. On Tuesday, the House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with overwhelming support.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where related legislation has 60 co-sponsors and bipartisan support. Supporters say the old-school technology remains a vital piece of the government’s emergency communication network and that many Americans continue to depend on it.
U.S. automakers have been eager to consign AM radio to the history books. Instead, they have triggered the nearly unthinkable: a bipartisan push from Congress to save the century-old broadcast band.
An ensemble of advocates, including broadcasters and former federal emergency officials, have been pressing lawmakers for years to mandate AM radio after automakers such as Tesla, Volvo and BMW stopped providing those tuners in new models. Their push is working. On Tuesday, the House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with overwhelming support.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where related legislation has 60 co-sponsors and bipartisan support. Supporters say the old-school technology remains a vital piece of the government’s emergency communication network and that many Americans continue to depend on it.