HR 8449 — AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024

8449 IntroducedReported in House (IH)](RH)] <DOC> 118thUnion CONGRESSCalendar 2dNo. Session H.

625 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

8449 To[Report requireNo. the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

118-740, Part I] To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________November A18, BILL2024 ToReported requirefrom the SecretaryCommittee ofon TransportationEnergy toand issueCommerce awith ruleamendments requiring[Strike accessout toall AMafter broadcastthe stationsenacting clause and insert the part printed in motoritalic] vehicles,November 18, 2024 Committees on Transportation and forInfrastructure otherand purposes.Homeland Security discharged;

committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 17, 2024] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

(3) AM broadcast station.--The term ``AM broadcast station'' means a radio broadcast stationstation-- (A) licensed by the Federal Communications Commission for the dissemination of radio communications--communications (A) intended to be received by the public;

(6) Device.--The term ``device'' means a piece of equipment or an apparatus that is designed-- (A) to receive signals transmitted by a radio broadcast stationstation; (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.

153));

(7) Digital audio am broadcast station.-- (A) In general.--The term ``digital audio AM broadcast station'' means an AM broadcast station that--that (i)uses isan licensedIn byBand theOn Channel DAB System (as defined in section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal CommunicationsRegulations Commission;(or a successor regulation)) for broadcasting purposes.

and(B) (ii)Exclusion.--The usesterm ``digital audio AM broadcast station'' does not include an In-bandAll-digital On-channelAM systemstation (as defined in section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation))regulation)). for broadcasting purposes.

(B)(8) Exclusion.--TheIPAWS.--The term ``digital``IPAWS'' audiomeans AMthe broadcastpublic station''alert doesand notwarning includesystem anof all-digitalthe AMUnited stationStates (asdescribed defined in section 73.402526 of titlethe 47,Homeland CodeSecurity Act of Federal2002 Regulations(6 (orU.S.C. a successor regulation)).

(8) Integrated public alert and warning system;

ipaws.--The terms ``Integrated Public Alert and Warning System'' and ``IPAWS'' mean 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.

(11) Receive.--TheRadio broadcast station.--The term ``receive''``radio meansbroadcast tostation'' receivehas athe broadcastmeaning signalgiven viathe over-the-airterm transmission.in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.

(12)153). Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Transportation.

(13)(12) Signal.--TheRadio termstation ``signal''license.--The meansterm radio``radio frequency energy that a holder of a radio station licenselicense'' grantedhas orthe authorizedmeaning bygiven the Federalterm Communicationsin Commissionsection pursuant3 to sections 301 and 307 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.

301,153). 307) intentionally emits or causes to be emitted at a specified frequency for the purpose of transmitting content or programming to the public.

(14)(13) StandardReceive.--The equipment.--The term ``standard``receive'' equipment'' means motorto vehiclereceive equipment (as defined in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code) that-- (A) is installed as a system,broadcast part,signal orvia componentover-the-air oftransmission. a motor vehicle as originally manufactured;

and(14) (B)Secretary.--The theterm manufacturer``Secretary'' ofmeans the motorSecretary vehicle recommends or authorizes to be included in the motor vehicle for no additional or separate monetary fee, payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price of aTransportation. motor vehicle.

(15) 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.

(16) Standard equipment.--The term ``standard equipment'' means motor vehicle equipment (as defined in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code) that-- (A) is installed as a system, part, or component of a passenger motor vehicle as originally manufactured;

and (B) 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.

(17) 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.

(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;

(2) requiring access to AM broadcast stations through the devices required under paragraph (1) in a manner that is easily accessible to adrivers; driver after the effective date of the rule;

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 stationsstations. as standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles manufactured in the United States, imported into the United States, or shipped in interstate commerce after the effective date of the rule.

(c) 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 betweenduring the period of time 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) 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) 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 of time described in this subsection.

(d) Relationship to Other Laws.--WhenLaws.--After the ruledate issuedof underenactment subsectionof (a)this isAct, in effect, 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.

(e) Enforcement.-- (1) Civil penalty.--Any person failingwho toviolates comply with the rule issued under subsection (a) shall be liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty inunder accordance with section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code.Code, as if that rule were a regulation described in that section.

(2) 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) inof accordancethis withsection, sectionas 30163if ofthat titlerule 49,were Uniteda Statesregulation Code.described in subsection (a)(1) of that section 30163.

and (iv) 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;

(g)(4) Briefing and Report.--report.-- (1)(A) 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 subsectionparagraph (f)(1),(1), including recommendations for legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

(2)(B) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Comptroller General provides the briefing required under paragraphsubparagraph (1),(A), the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the results of the study required under subsectionparagraph (f)(1),(1), including recommendations for legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

(h)(g) Review.--Not less frequently than once every 5 years after the date on which the Secretary issuedissues 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) the impacts of the rule issued under that subsection, including the impacts on public safety;

and (2) possible changes to IPAWS communication technologies that would enable resilient and accessible alerts to drivers and passengers of passenger motor vehicles.

<all>Amend the title so as to read:

``A bill to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles, and for other purposes.''.

Union Calendar No.