This bill requires the Secretary of Transportation, within one year of enactment, to issue a rule mandating that new passenger vehicles include AM radio receivers as standard equipment at no extra cost to buyers. Automakers would generally have two to three years after the rule takes effect to comply, though smaller manufacturers producing 40,000 or fewer vehicles annually get at least four years. During the transition period before the rule kicks in, any vehicles sold without AM radio access must be clearly labeled to inform buyers, and manufacturers cannot charge extra for adding AM capability later. The legislation also blocks states from creating their own conflicting rules on AM radio access in vehicles and sets civil penalties for automakers who violate the federal requirement. Additionally, it directs the Government Accountability Office to study how well AM radio and other emergency alert systems reach the public during crises, with findings due to Congress within about a year, followed by periodic reviews of the rule's effectiveness every five years.
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