NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association supports H.R. 3413 AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act. The bipartisan measure would require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in new vehicles as standard equipment, meaning for no extra charge. Keeping AM in the dashboard is a priority for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as some electric vehicle makers are leaving it out of the dashboard due to interference issues, Inside Towers reported.
The issue is a priority for NATE as well. A subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee recently passed the measure and now NATE is urging the full House to pass the bill. “At a time when communication is critical, efforts to remove AM radio from vehicles will threaten the safety of our workforce,” said NATE President/CEO Todd Schlekeway.
Schlekeway explained: “Members of NATE are deployed across the country in many hard-to-reach areas where AM Radio is vital for communication in the case of weather or other emergencies. The value of AM radio during emergencies cannot be overstated, and it has clearly saved lives and kept our teams informed.”
Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) sponsored the bill, which would apply to passenger cars and trucks, not commercial vehicles. “This critical legislation ensures that the 82 million Americans who rely on AM radio each month will continue to have access to essential emergency information and local news,” NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt recently said.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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