AM Radio Bill Passes House Vote
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, H.R. 979, passed the House on a voice vote Tuesday and now moves to the Senate.
Supporters say keeping AM radio in vehicles is a matter of public safety.
Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie tells colleagues that AM radio remains a trusted source of all kinds of information …
GUTHRIE … “Tens of millions of Americans tune in to broadcast AM Radio every day. Farmers use AM radio for weather forecasts, local information, crop reports, while older Americans rely on it for local news and programming. Most importantly, AM Radio is a critical tool for emergency communications. When a disaster hits and a broadband network goes dark, AM radio can continue providing critical emergency information to communities."
Texas Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher says emergency communication is exactly why Congress should require automakers to preserve AM radio access in new vehicles …
FLETCHER … “This bill, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, recognizes the essential role of AM radio and ensures that consumers will continue to have AM radio available in their vehicles. It directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule that requires vehicle manufacturers to install equipment to receive AM radio signals in all new passenger cars made or sold in the United States."
Lawmakers backing the bill say AM radio's long-standing role as a dependable source of information is exactly why it should remain available in every new vehicle sold in the U.S.
