The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act passed the US House of Representatives on September 16. If the document is approved by the Senate and the President, the US Department of Transportation will have to develop rules requiring AM receivers to be installed in all new cars.

The reason for the dispute is not only the drivers' habit. AM radio is used for emergency alerts, including in situations where mobile communications and the Internet may be unavailable. More than 4,300 AM stations operate in the US, and the monthly audience exceeds 80 million people.

At the same time, car manufacturers are gradually removing AM from some new models, especially those with electric power plants. One of the technical problems is electromagnetic interference from the high-voltage system, which can worsen signal reception. According to an industry study, eliminating such interference could require about $3.8 billion in cumulative costs by 2030.

The law is not yet in force. After the House of Representatives, the document must pass the Senate and then receive the President's signature. At the same time, the Senate version provides for a different term of validity of the requirement: 10 years versus 8 years in the House of Representatives version.

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