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PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The signal might be fading, but it can’t be
lost.
That’s the message from politicians who are closing in on the required
number of votes needed to pass federal legislation that requires AM
radios in every new car.
The prevalence of AM broadcast radio has dipped in recent decades as
more listeners turn to options such as satellite radio and podcasts
during drivetime. But a large, bipartisan group of lawmakers believes
saving the AM dial is critical to public safety, especially in rural
America, and they want to ensure access to it via car radios.
“The emergency alert system works on the AM spectrum - that’s where
people get information about emergencies,” said independent Sen. Angus
King of Maine. “It’s a critical source of information, particularly in
rural areas that might not have clear access to an FM signal.”
King, and Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, are among dozens of
lawmakers [2]supporting the AM for Every Vehicle Act. Lawmakers first
proposed the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S.
Senate last year, and it has gained a wave of new cosponsors in recent
weeks. There are now enough cosponsors to pass the bill in the House,
and the Senate is only a few sponsors away, federal records state.
The proposal would have the U.S. Department of Transportation require
all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast
stations. The rules would apply to vehicles manufactured in the U.S.,
imported into the country, or shipped in interstate commerce.
The drive to save AM radio comes as some carmakers are phasing the
format out. Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, a proponent of
saving AM radio, said last year that he sent a letter to 20 carmakers
asking them to maintain AM broadcast and found eight had removed it
from electric vehicles.
That is potentially bad news for farming communities and rural parts of
the country, lawmakers said. The National Association of Farm
Broadcasters found last year that two-thirds of farmers listen to AM
radio for news that is important to their operations.
For some farming communities, AM radio “isn’t just another option -
it’s the only option,” said Jenni Tilton-Flood, a dairy farmer and
owner of Flood Brothers Farm in Clinton, Maine. Even farmers who don’t
personally rely on it heavily are aware of that, she said.
“It’s really important for me to recognize and acknowledge what’s
important for others beyond my own farmyard and AM radio is one of
those things,” she said.
AM radio is also important for highway safety information and storm and
weather updates, Collins said. The bill would “would ensure the
accessibility of AM service in every vehicle, safeguarding essential
communication tools that are critical to our rural communities,”
Collins said.
It was unclear on Monday when the proposal could come up for votes. The
bill was placed on the Senate’s legislative calendar in September.
References
1.
https://apnews.com/author/patrick-whittle
2.
https://apnews.com/article/am-radio-cars-congress-bipartisan-bill-ac3aa22e5db8d2acdc2448fe620c28f4
