This recent article gives us an overview on how much has been spent, for and against in lobbying over the Keeping AM in Cars Radio Act:
Against:
General Motors $4.96 million, Toyota $1.6 million, Honda $910,000, and
Tesla $340,000, wo had already removed AM and is also beginning to remove FM from some models too.
On the flip side money spent on lobbying in favor of the Act :
The NAB over $2.5 million, iHeartMedia spent more than $1.2 million, Salem Media Group $30,000.
And neither side are backing down.
Q3 Automaker Lobbying Surge Left Mark On AM Radio Act https://radioink.com/2025/10/21/q3-automaker-lobbying-surge-left-mark-on-am-radio-act/
Why does the act have a time limit? It should be forever.
I tell you, if I have to ever get a car with no choice of a normal radio I will rip the screen out and put one in myself.
@mark Has a time limit for the act been stipulated? I mean is there a deadline date on the final decision? To me it's felt like it's been a perpetual battle
@richpowers Yes there's a time limit that the act if passed would be in effect. That was said in the article you referenced and I've seen it before. The car makers want the length of time the act is in force reduced from 10 years to 8 years.
And who knows if this would apply to us here even if it gets passed there.
@mark Ahh, I guess I skimmed over it.. at one point (several months ago) I got the impression it had already passed because some articles seemed to be implying a great victory or something... But no.. I had Misinterpreted it .. it seems to goes on and on.. hasn't it been several years now?
Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed, hope it passes.
Looking at the linked article again I see it say:
"Federal lobbying disclosures show a concentrated push from the nation’s largest automakers to shape the legislation before its October markup."
Which sounds more like a tally date or something to me, and the only other dates seem to refer to the time limit for automakers to comply:
"The renewed lobbying efforts coincided with a policy shift: a late amendment to shorten the enforcement sunset period of the Act from ten to eight years. The adjustment gives the Department of Transportation’s rulemaking authority an earlier expiration date in 2033, unless renewed by Congress."
I don't think there's a set deadline for the act to pass. Just ran a search and there doesn't appear to be any set deadline for the Act conclusion, it appears to just be an ongoing battle.
A Google ai search tells me:
"There is no equivalent Canadian federal mandate that requires AM radio in all new vehicles. "
The Act only applies to all cars manufactured in the U.S.
Edit, correction: it applies to all new cars that are sold in the US
.... The car makers want the length of time the act is in force reduced from 10 years to 8 years. ...
Oh!! I just got what you said. My bad, somehow I thought that that the 10 years was a time limit for automakers to comply if passed.. I had it all wrong. I thought you were saying there was a deadline for when the Act had to reach a final decision.
That's what I meant when I asked if a deadline had been set. No wonder.
- Gained bipartisan compromise. The original 10-year sunset period faced resistance, particularly from Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who opposed mandates and had ties to the auto industry. The eight-year compromise secured his support and a commitment to bring the bill to the House floor.
- Moved the bill forward. The amendment was the key that unlocked the next stage of the legislative process. Without it, the bill could have stalled indefinitely in committee. Following the compromise, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the bill with an overwhelming 50-1 vote.
- "Eight years is better than zero." As stated by Representative Gus Bilirakis, one of the bill's co-sponsors, the shorter mandate ensures AM radio is in new vehicles for a meaningful period, rather than risking the bill's failure entirely.
- Weakens long-term protection. Critics, including Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis, argue that a shorter sunset period weakens the bill's core purpose. Since the need for emergency communication is permanent, they contend the mandate should not expire.
- Compromises on public safety. These opponents feel that the amendment harms the public by compromising on the longevity of a vital emergency communication tool.
- Creates uncertainty. The sunset provision forces Congress to revisit the issue in eight years. If legislators fail to renew the law, the mandate will expire, and automakers will be free to remove AM radio again.