A bill requiring AM radio to be included as standard equipment in new cars in the United States has passed the House of Representatives. If it is ultimately enacted, automakers would have to provide AM radio without charging consumers extra.

TechCrunch reported on Sept. 16 that the House recently passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with bipartisan support. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish rules mandating AM radio in new vehicles.

The push is driven by the need for disaster response. AM radio signals can travel long distances and are used to deliver emergency information when power outages or communications network disruptions occur. The broadcasting industry and emergency response groups also backed the mandate, saying drivers must have access to information during disasters.

In the Senate, Democratic Senator Ed Markey (에드 마키) and Republican Senator Ted Cruz (테드 크루즈) jointly introduced the bill. They previously secured 60 co-sponsors, confirming bipartisan support, but whether it passes the Senate depends on additional legislative procedures.

By contrast, the auto industry has reduced traditional AM receivers as it shifts toward software-focused vehicles. Electric vehicle makers in particular argue that electromagnetic interference from electric motors degrades AM reception quality and sound quality.

Tesla does not include an AM receiver in the base Model 3 and Model Y. Rivian's R2 also provides digital broadcasting through iHeartRadio instead of an AM and FM receiver. BMW and Volvo have also excluded AM radio from some vehicles, and Ford once removed receivers but later changed course.

Internet-based broadcasting, however, can be limited if communications networks go down, making it different from a traditional AM receiver.

The bill would take effect only after passing the Senate and being signed by the president. If enacted, the Department of Transportation must prepare related regulations within 1 year. Whether to maintain traditional broadcast reception for disaster response as the auto industry goes digital has emerged as an issue.