WASHINGTON - The U.S. House passed legislation this week that would require AM radio to remain available in new vehicles, a measure Oklahoma broadcasters say could help preserve access to local news, sports and emergency information.
The House passed House Resolution 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, by voice vote on Sept. 15. The legislation now heads to the Senate.
The bill would direct the Department of Transportation to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio as standard equipment in vehicles and make it easily accessible to consumers without a separate fee or surcharge. It also calls for a Government Accountability Office study examining AM radio and other technologies used to deliver emergency alerts to people in vehicles.
The Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters said all five House members from Oklahoma - U.S. Reps. Tom Cole, Stephanie Bice, Frank Lucas, Kevin Hern and Josh Brecheen - supported the bill.
“AM radio remains a vital public safety tool across Oklahoma, especially during severe weather events and other emergencies when reliable communications are essential,” OAB President Will Payne said. Dozens of AM radio stations are based in Oklahoma.
The association lobbied for the legislation, arguing that AM radio remains a way for Oklahomans to receive emergency alerts, severe weather information, local news and community programming. OAB has also described car radios as an important way for people to stay connected to their communities.
For Oklahoma broadcasters, the issue extends beyond emergency alerts.
Don Cristi, a representative of Griffin Media, which operates radio stations in Tulsa, said AM stations continue to serve audiences interested in news, talk and sports programming, including coverage of the Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys and local high school teams.
“The majority of radio listening continues to be the automobile,” Cristi said. “And if we don’t make a stand for our AM band, could FM be next?”
Cristi also pointed to AM radios’ potential role during severe weather and other emergencies. The National Association of Broadcasters argues that AM signals can reach large geographic areas including rural communities and can provide information when cellular or internetbased communications are disrupted.
A group of national emergency response organizations told Congress in a 2025 letter that AM radio can provide emergency information when other communications systems are unavailable, including during natural disasters and public safety emergencies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said local communities rely on AM radio for emergency warnings and information during disasters, including tornadoes and hurricanes.
Some automakers, citing a means to save on production costs and other considerations, have begun manufacturing cars without AM radio functionality.
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News go to Gaylord News.net.