Technology development seems to be accelerating, and that includes in the field of vehicle infotainment. However, some older technology could remain, as lawmakers may require automakers to include AM radio receivers in new vehicles as standard equipment, per a new bill now headed to the Senate. The bill has been opposed by major automakers.
Dubbed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the new bill would direct the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) to require automakers to include AM radio receivers in new vehicles without a separate or additional fee. The bill would also require automakers to disclose to customers if a given vehicle does not provide access to AM broadcast radio, and it would direct the Government Accountability Office to study the importance of AM radio as a means of providing information to citizens in emergency situations.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has bi-partisan support, and was introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) last May. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
“AM radio serves a critical function during emergencies,” said Senator Cruz. “It reliably gets important information to the public, which is why several former FEMA administrators and representatives of the emergency response community have called for AM radio to remain in vehicles. AM radio is also vital to free expression and viewpoint diversity. With low barriers to entry, it allows Americans, especially conservatives, to communicate their points of view and help free speech flourish.”
“Today’s vote to advance the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act sends a clear signal to carmakers,” said Senator Markey. “AM radio is an essential communication tool during emergencies, and for decades has been a source of news, entertainment, sports, and music for tens of millions of drivers.”
The bill has received pushback from automakers, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, of which GM is a member. Auto groups argue that AM radio receivers are not required for drivers to receive important emergency information and alerts. In addition, auto groups argue that the new bill would hinder technology progress, especially with regard to EVs, given a degree of electromagnetic interference generated by EV batteries. As such, the groups argue that compliance would stall EV adoption and EV technology development, and would result in decreased economic output and job losses.
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Comments
Hey Ted and Ed, don’t you have more important things to do?
I would rather they do nothing at all. Always remember, Gridlock is your friend. Bipartisanship is code for “hold on to your wallet”.
I’d rather they work on something like this bill than set around having a meeting about ufo’s.
Bring back the CD in cars. I don’t want to listen to commercials.. what a bunch of kaifaroonis.
Readers,
This is not the fluff piece that you may think.
Electromagnetic interference pollutes the spectrum as lead pollutes the soil and water.
Just like lead or other pollutant – once this technology becomes ubiquitous, it will be almost impossible to remove it from the spectrum.
When the car companies and their cohorts are saying something like: “… given a degree of electromagnetic interference generated by EV batteries. ” you can be very confident that they are speaking the truth.
It’s not the batteries that cause the interference. It is the charging (chargers) and discharging circuits (inverters).
However, the electromagnetic noise created by those circuits will be minuscule when the much-heralded Wireless Charging Systems become mainstream.
–
Who cares, right?
You will, when the things being interfered with are the things that you take for granted now.
The current impulses in these circuits break down to cover a +very wide+ portion of the spectrum covering many government and social services.
Just One Example:
Police and Fire Departments use FM radios and these are represented as being immune from the noise.
NO radio system is immune from this wideband electromagnetic noise since the noise is ALSO an electromagnetic signal.
Even FM radio systems will be interfered with because the overall noise floor will be raised and the FM receiver will not be able to even hear the signal that it is supposed to pick up.
There are many more examples:
Over-the-Air TV ? Your Wireless Garage Door Opener? Your Wireless Alarm System? Anything else that is wireless.
Forcing the manufacturers to provide AM radios will force them to clean up their act.
You are correct. It’s not fluff. It’s just the owners of AM radio stations across America lobbying for something that benefits the station owners at the expense of everyone else in the country. You can get all the emergency broadcasts you need on the FM BAND.Its not the governments job to force us to buy an AM radio. Did the government force Americans when automobiles became popular to continue to buy buggy whips?
Mike K.
Trying to say this is a Liberal Government Mandate is beyond the pale.
All gm cars have mandatory ONSTAR, even the $13,000 now discontinued SPARK.
Now they all have wifi constantly microwaving you. Even after the 30 day trial period. To prove the wifi is still cooking you if you login with another laptop or celly it will simply tell you that you aren’t allowed to do anything over the fully functioning wifi.
On SOME gm vehicles ONSTAR in Detroit can shut it down. You cannot do this yourself. Of course Detroit can turn it back on for any reason.
If you want to get govt ‘off the backs’ of the little people, do not worry about car radios since no manufacturer offers a delete option for a radio any longer. GM insists on something for 100% ONSTAR compliance.
Haha Mike –
No, the comment was made for you.
The cars I drive ( 3 plugins ) are a calculated risk for me. Certain things upcoming in the future are deal-breakers.
If so, I will just accept what I currently have.
The problem with your buggy whips analogy is that Early cars were much more environmentally friendly in congested cities than horses.
The bad environment diseased conditions were only improved by the motor car and Sanitary Sewers which in general increased lifespans about 20 years. This was not due to ‘Medical Advances’.
I, for one – do not want an extremely bad environment in any car I own. I have decided to suffer along with a mediocre one, however.
I live in an area that FM radio doesn’t reach.
However, AM from the same transmitting location is solid.
If you live in a metropolitan area you will not realize how limited your local FM band is.
How safe is EMI to the human body? We are the guinea pigs!
2024 Caddy Lyriqs getting 5G.. NO thanks… Glad I bought a 2023. 4G-LTE is bad enough.
I agree with the AM radio insistence. The 2011 VOLT had excellent BOSE AM reception. The 2 inverters in the car (3 if you count the dc/dc converter) were filtered enough to not cause a problem….
The BOLT EV and EUV are kinda lousy in the AM reception department – I have to put it in Neutral and Glide if I’m trying to hear a weak AM station saying something important.
I want less crap coming from the car, not more….. Good AM reception forces LESS CRAP.
The auto makers are attempting to make the broadcast radio industry change. The base of AM broadcast infotainment both for entertainment and emergency use is enormous. The auto industry is the tail trying to wag the information industry dog.
The auto industry has the expertise to deal with the issues they are using as excuses.
In Australia the same AM radio band is being neglected also. In hilly/mountainous areas AM Band radio is essential as FM is almost useless in these areas. From Australia i support the US senators efforts and i hope they pass the bill. In AUSTRALIA LIKE PARTS OF THE USA Wildfires/Bushfires are a real Danger and AM transmissions have greater reach. To GM please keep your customers in mind.
The truth is it starts with EVs .So much push to get consumers to buy all this new highly invested engineering.I am an Electrician and I can tell you that sitting on top of Battery’s while driving for long periods can’t be good especially when your Am radio sounds like Frankeinsteins lab with lots of interference with unknown effects on your health,you know like when people tell don’t put cell phone to your ear only the future will tell.But no worries Auto Manufacturers have solved this problem delete AM radio ,Good Job! But for all those American Radio Stations around USA that will shut down forever so They can sell new cars.
The Auto industry talks about interference, but brings forth no evidence, an inconvenient lie. Taking out AM knocks out 99% of all conservative talk and religious broadcasters, plus a large chunk of sports and alternative programming options. Maybe that’s exactly what this is really all about. FM, Satellite or nothing. Rural America gets hit hard too. Leave the AM radio alone, even if only 20% of America listens to it, especially when there is no evidence that any harm will be caused at all to some greedy EV CEO or his company. Go USA!