The effort from some automakers — like BMW, Audi, Volvo, and Tesla — to remove AM radio from their vehicles has loomed like a dark cloud over rural America for much of the past year. AM broadcasts are vital sources of news and emergency information in isolated communities that struggle with reliable broadband connectivity and other media access.
For many of these people, the national AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act — which would require all new passenger motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment — can’t come quickly enough.
“For those who work mostly in the open, often miles from home, response time is critical,” said Emily Buckman, American Farm Bureau Federation’s director of government affairs. “Members need a reliable form of communication to access critical information during those times.”
There are over 4,000 AM radio stations across the United States, with hundreds of them focusing specifically on agricultural programming. AM radio helps keep rural residents apprised of news that may impact their businesses, health care, education, and family. The trade magazine Today’s Farmer noted that data collected in 2021-22 by Aimpoint Research found that two-thirds of farmers surveyed said they listened to AM stations for information related to their farming operations.
“AM radio still serves as a very important medium of information for large swaths of the country,” said Nate Scherer, policy analyst for the nonprofit American Consumer Institute. He noted that recent Nielsen data showed about 82 million Americans tune into AM radio each month. “They’re relying on AM radio when they’re on their way to work or driving around the farm in their pickup trucks.”
Most vehicle manufacturers are currently focused on removing AM radio from their fleets of electric vehicles because they claim that electric motors can interfere with AM radio frequencies, making it sound staticky over the airwaves. Yet the movement hasn’t been exclusive to EVs — Ford initially announced in 2023 that it would not include AM radio in all new Ford and Lincoln models until reversing that decision amid a massive backlash.
“Phasing out of AM radio is mainly applied to EVs, but with more and more states deciding they’re going to go to all-electric vehicles, it’s not hard to see a couple of years out from now where you just won’t be able to buy a vehicle with that capability,” Scherer said.
Automakers believe that motorists are more likely to listen to satellite radio or connect to media via Bluetooth through their smartphones, but advocates point out that broadcast radio is still available when the power goes out or if cell towers go offline.
“It’s particularly important during times of emergency,” said Buckman, who noted that AFBF was flooded with concerns from members after automakers began making their decisions. “If you think about a thunderstorm or a tornado moving in closely, AM radio is a key form of communication.”
One response from some corners against AM is that people can tune into FM stations instead. Yet it’s not that simple.
FM broadcasts typically have a maximum range of about 40 miles; AM frequencies, on the other hand, are primarily propagated close to the ground and can be heard up to 100 miles most days, with that range being amplified several times during nighttime hours.
“Unlike FM radio, AM radio operates at lower frequencies and longer wavelengths, enabling it to pass through solid objects and travel further than other radio waves. As a result, FEMA’s National Public Warning System — through which FEMA delivers critical safety alerts to the public — operates through broadcast AM radio stations,” said U.S. Sen. Ed Markey from Massachusetts. He noted that the Department of Transportation has stated that removing AM radios from vehicles means that this vital public safety system will no longer function as intended.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act was introduced in 2023 in both the U.S. House and Senate and has garnered broad bipartisan support. Specifically, in the House, it has 267 cosponsors, and in the Senate, 62 cosponsors. It also has the backing of major stakeholders, like the AFBF and the National Association of Broadcasters. In fact, over 70 organizations have signed a letter showing their support, while other letters have been send directly to automakers.
Scherer said that it wasn’t clear why leadership in the chambers haven’t brought this legislation to the floor yet. He hypothesized that there may be some hesitation around creating new government mandates with potential unintended consequences or that some lawmakers may view it as too much of a dying medium or irrelevant to their constituent base.
The bill gained new awareness in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton early this fall, which severely damaged communications and other infrastructure, making AM radio a standout source of updates and emergency relief coordination. As recently as a month ago, media outlets were pointing to a growing likelihood that the measure would get passed — and potentially passed soon, especially with time running out on the clock for Congress to be in session.
“We fully understand that Congress has a lot on its plate to get done before the end of this session. So we will see if this lands in an end-of-year package before the Congress concludes,” Buckman said. “But it’s very rare that you see 60 senators behind a piece of legislation. And it’s rare that you have over 250 cosponsors on a piece of legislation in the House. The support is there — I think it’s going to be a matter of timing.”
Ryan Tipps is the founder and managing editor of AGDAILY. He has covered farming since 2011, and his writing has been honored by state- and national-level agricultural organizations.
