US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 979 — what changed

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 2 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 2 Definitions

In this Act:

(1)
Administrator— The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2)
changed AM Am broadcast band— The term AM broadcast band means the band of frequencies between 535 kilohertz and 1705 kilohertz, inclusive.
(3)
changed AM Am broadcast station— The term AM broadcast station means a radio broadcast station—
(A)
licensed by the Federal Communications Commission for the dissemination of radio communications intended to be received by the public; and
(B)
operated on a channel in the AM broadcast band.
(4)
changed Appropriate committees of Congress—congress— The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(B)
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C)
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(D)
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and
(E)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(5)
changed Comptroller General—Automated driving system— The term Comptroller General “automated driving system” means a system that meets the Comptroller General definition of Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 automation as those terms are defined in the United States.April 2021 edition of the J3016 recommended practice of SAE International, “Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles”.
(6)
added Comptroller general— The term Comptroller General means the Comptroller General of the United States.
(7)
renumbered was (8) Device— The term device means a piece of equipment or an apparatus that is designed—
(A)
renumbered was (8)(3) to receive signals transmitted by a radio broadcast station; and
(B)
renumbered was (8)(4) to play back content or programming derived from those signals.
(8)
added Digital audio am broadcast station—
(7)
removed Digital audio AM broadcast station—
(A)
renumbered was (9)(2) In general— The term digital audio AM broadcast station means an AM broadcast station that uses an In Band On Channel DAB System (as defined in section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) for broadcasting purposes.
(B)
renumbered was (9)(3) Exclusion— The term digital audio AM broadcast station does not include an All-digital AM station (as defined in section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)).
(9)
added Ipaws— The term IPAWS means the public alert and warning system of the United States described in section 526 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321o).
(8)
removed IPAWS— The term IPAWS means the public alert and warning system of the United States described in section 526 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 321o).
(10)
renumbered was (11) Manufacturer— The term manufacturer has the meaning given the term in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code.
(11)
renumbered was (12) Passenger motor vehicle— The term passenger motor vehicle has the meaning given the term in section 32101 of title 49, United States Code.
(12)
renumbered was (13) Radio broadcast station— The term radio broadcast station has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(13)
renumbered was (14) Radio station license— The term radio station license has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(14)
renumbered was (15) Receive— The term receive means to receive a broadcast signal via over-the-air transmission.
(15)
renumbered was (16) Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
(16)
renumbered was (17) Signal— The term signal means radio frequency energy that a holder of a radio station license intentionally emits or causes to be emitted at a specified frequency for the purpose of transmitting content or programming to the public.
(17)
renumbered was (18) Standard equipment— The term standard equipment means motor vehicle equipment (as defined in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code) that—
(A)
renumbered was (18)(3) is installed as a system, part, or component of a passenger motor vehicle as originally manufactured; and
(B)
renumbered was (18)(4) the manufacturer of the passenger motor vehicle recommends or authorizes to be included in the passenger motor vehicle for no additional or separate monetary fee, payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price of the passenger motor vehicle.
(18)
renumbered was (19) State— The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.

Sec. 3 AM broadcast stations rule

(a)
Rule required— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator and the Federal Communications Commission, shall issue a rule—
(1)
requiring devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations be installed as standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles—
(A)
manufactured in the United States for sale in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce; and
(B)
manufactured after the effective date of the rule;
(2)
requiring access to AM broadcast stations through the devices required under paragraph (1) in a manner that is easily accessible to drivers; and
(3)
allowing a manufacturer to comply with that rule by installing devices as described in paragraph (1) that can receive signals and play content transmitted by digital audio AM broadcast stations.
(b)
added Report required— Before issuing the rule required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate and make publicly available on the website of the Department of Transportation, a report that evaluates the following:
(b)
removed Compliance—
(1)
removed In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), in issuing the rule required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish an effective date for the rule that is not less than 2 years, but not more than 3 years, after the date on which the rule is issued.
(1)
changed Certain manufacturers— In issuing the rule required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish an effective date for the rule that is at least 4 years after the date on which the rule is issued with respect Any potential adverse impacts related to manufacturers that manufactured not more than 40,000 automotive innovation and the motor vehicle safety of passenger motor vehicles for sale in equipped with automated driving systems from the United States in 2022.reception of AM radio signals by such vehicles as required by subsection (a) of this Act.
(2)
added The range of solutions that manufacturers could adopt or have adopted to mitigate any potential impacts identified in paragraph (1).
(c)
added Compliance—
(1)
added In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), in issuing the rule required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish an effective date for the rule that is not more than 2 years after the date on which the rule is issued.
(2)
added Certain manufacturers— In issuing the rule required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish an effective date for the rule that is at least 4 years after the date on which the rule is issued with respect to a manufacturer that manufactured not more than 40,000 passenger motor vehicles for sale in the United States in 2022.
(d)
renumbered was (4) Interim requirement— For passenger motor vehicles manufactured after the date of enactment of this Act and manufactured in the United States for sale in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce during the period beginning on the day after the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the day before the effective date of the rule issued under subsection (a) that do not include devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations, the manufacturer of the passenger motor vehicles—
(1)
renumbered was (4)(3) shall provide clear and conspicuous labeling to inform purchasers of those passenger motor vehicles that the passenger motor vehicles do not include devices that can receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast stations; and
(2)
renumbered was (4)(4) may not charge an additional or separate monetary fee, payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price of the passenger motor vehicles, for access to AM broadcast stations for the period described in this subsection.
(e)
renumbered was (5) Relationship to other laws— After the date of enactment of this Act, a State or a political subdivision of a State may not prescribe or continue in effect a law, regulation, or other requirement applicable to access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles.
(f)
added Enforcement—
(e)
removed Enforcement—
(1)
renumbered was (6)(2) Civil penalty— Any person who violates the rule issued under subsection (a) shall be liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty under section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, as if that rule were a regulation described in that section.
(2)
renumbered was (6)(3) Civil action— The Attorney General may bring a civil action under section 30163 of title 49, United States Code, in an appropriate district court of the United States to enjoin a violation of the rule issued under subsection (a) of this section, as if that rule were a regulation described in subsection (a)(1) of that section 30163.
(g)
added GAO study—
(f)
removed GAO study—
(1)
renumbered was (7)(2) In general— The Comptroller General shall conduct a comprehensive study on disseminating emergency alerts and warnings to the public.
(2)
renumbered was (7)(3) Requirements— The study required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A)
renumbered was (7)(3)(3) an assessment of—
(i)
renumbered was (7)(3)(3)(2) the role of passenger motor vehicles in IPAWS communications, including by providing access to AM broadcast stations;
(ii)
renumbered was (7)(3)(3)(3) the advantages, effectiveness, limitations, resilience, and accessibility of existing IPAWS communication technologies, including AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles;
(iii)
renumbered was (7)(3)(3)(4) the advantages, effectiveness, limitations, resilience, and accessibility of AM broadcast stations relative to other IPAWS communication technologies in passenger motor vehicles; and
(iv)
renumbered was (7)(3)(3)(5) whether other IPAWS communication technologies are capable of ensuring the President (or a designee) can reach at least 90 percent of the population of the United States at a time of crisis, including at night; and
(B)
renumbered was (7)(3)(4) a description of any ongoing efforts to integrate new and emerging technologies and communication platforms into the IPAWS framework.
(3)
renumbered was (7)(4) Consultation required— In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall consult with—
(A)
renumbered was (7)(4)(3) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(B)
renumbered was (7)(4)(4) the Federal Communications Commission;
(C)
renumbered was (7)(4)(5) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration;
(D)
renumbered was (7)(4)(6) the Secretary;
(E)
renumbered was (7)(4)(7) Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local emergency management officials;
(F)
renumbered was (7)(4)(8) first responders;
(G)
renumbered was (7)(4)(9) technology experts in resilience and accessibility;
(H)
renumbered was (7)(4)(10) radio broadcasters;
(I)
renumbered was (7)(4)(11) manufacturers of passenger motor vehicles; and
(J)
renumbered was (7)(4)(12) other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the Comptroller General.
(4)
added Briefing and report—
(4)
removed Briefing and report—
(A)
renumbered was (7)(5)(2) Briefing— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the results of the study required by paragraph (1), including recommendations for legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
(B)
renumbered was (7)(5)(3) Report— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Comptroller General provides the briefing required under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the results of the study required under paragraph (1), including recommendations for legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
(h)
renumbered was (8) Review— Not less frequently than once every 5 years after the date on which the Secretary issues the rule required by subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator and the Federal Communications Commission, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that shall include an assessment of—
(1)
renumbered was (8)(3) the impacts of the rule issued under that subsection, including the impacts on public safety; and
(2)
renumbered was (8)(4) possible changes to IPAWS communication technologies that would enable resilient and accessible alerts to drivers and passengers of passenger motor vehicles.
(i)
added Sunset— This Act shall sunset and no longer be in effect on the date that is 8 years after the date of enactment of this Act, including the authority of the Secretary to carry out or enforce that rule.
(h)
removed Sunset— The rule issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall sunset and no longer be in effect on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, including the authority of the Secretary to carry out or enforce that rule.