Still, the outcry from AM allies comes loud and clear from both sides of the aisle. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored in the Senate by Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), would require automakers to sell new cars, electric or not. It would require AM broadcast radio to remain the default. additional fee. The main reason for this is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency relies on AM to send out emergency alerts.
FEMA has expanded its ability to communicate these important messages through more modern media. But as FEMA’s deputy administrator argued in Congressional testimony last spring, AM is nothing if it can’t be trusted. Its simplicity makes it less vulnerable to hacking and other manipulation by adversaries than complex systems that may have more points of failure. You can also communicate with anyone at any time, even in areas without cell phone service or Wi-Fi, or during natural disasters where broadband is unavailable. And it’s free.
For now, this all makes sense. Before AM is eliminated, Markey and Crews want the Comptroller’s Office to report on whether alternative communications systems can achieve the same reach and reliability as AM broadcast radio in emergencies. The alternative is to permanently equip vehicles with technology that will one day become obsolete, so authorities need to find a way to do that.
So what happens? The answer may be that AM radio is slowly dying. Indeed, if a car loses his AM, the AM station could migrate to his FM. However, the cost structure can make it more difficult to survive in that band. Sure, AM stations can provide programming in other ways, but for many of their viewers, listening while driving is important. The upshot, industry insiders say, is that no AM in cars means no AM at all in the near future.
This will result in a loss. There are approximately 4,200 AM stations across the country, and more than 82 million Americans listen to the radio each month. Adults these days may wonder if kids these days never even put their fingers on a dial. But even in the age of satellite radio and streaming, AM and FM together account for about 60% of all in-car listening.
AM’s fan base is older and shrinking even further. Therefore, automakers are reluctant to incorporate this legacy technology into products that are marketed as ultra-modern. But it’s also vibrant, especially in rural America. Some stations’ afternoon slots are dominated by right-wing stories, which perhaps explains why so many conservative politicians are lining up behind efforts to save AM. However, the rest of the day often features important agricultural information for nearby farmers or spotlights local events that families often miss. Many of his AM stations specialize in programming for immigrant audiences, many of which are broadcast in Spanish and other languages.
Although these channels may be locally owned and operated, FM stations are becoming increasingly commercialized and complex. Listeners have relationships with stations and hosts. they call. We hear their voices as much as they hear us.
Finally, there is history. AM radio carried Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats to an anxious nation. He gained fame as a sports star through the announcer’s enthusiastic commentary. It brought the Beatles to America. Michael Harrison, publisher of radio trade magazine Talkers, said radio has helped the auto industry value cars over the past century. Now, automakers are throwing their long-standing symbiosis back into the radio arena.
But as important as AM radio is to American culture, it limits government to important regulatory tasks. It may be up to Congress to mandate the use of AM radios in cars as long as they are important to public safety. It is not Congress’ role to prop up the industry by forcing automakers to include features that the market deems worthless. After all, new cars are expensive enough as is. Lawmakers, along with listeners, may be hoping that AM will remain essential for at least a few more years. But in the long run, policies cannot remain static.