PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The signal may be weaker, but it's not lost.
That's the message from politicians who are closing in on the votes needed to pass a federal bill that would require all new cars to have AM radios.
The prevalence of AM broadcast radio has declined in recent decades as more listeners turn to options such as satellite radio and podcasts during drive time. But a large bipartisan group of lawmakers believes preserving the AM dial is important to public safety, especially in rural America, and wants to ensure access to it via car radios. That's what I think.
“Emergency warning systems operate on the AM band, and that's where people can get information about emergencies,” said Maine Independent Sen. Angus King. “This is an important source of information, especially in rural areas where he may not have clear access to an FM signal.”
King and Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins are among dozens of lawmakers who support AM laws for all vehicles. Lawmakers first introduced the bill in the U.S. House and Senate last year, and it has received a flurry of new co-sponsors in recent weeks. Federal records show the bill currently has enough co-sponsors to pass in the House and only a few sponsors in the Senate.
The proposal would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to require all new vehicles to be equipped with devices that allow them to access AM broadcast stations. This rule applies to vehicles manufactured in the United States, imported into the United States, or transported in interstate commerce.
The move to save money on AM radio comes as some automakers phase out the format. Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, a proponent of preserving AM radio, sent a letter last year to 20 automakers asking them to keep AM broadcasts, and eight of them were found to have removed AM broadcasts from their electric vehicles. He said he did.
This could potentially be bad news for rural areas and rural parts of the country, the lawmakers said. The National Agricultural Broadcasters Association found last year that two-thirds of farmers listen to AM radio to get news important to their business.
AM radio is also important for getting highway safety information and storm and weather updates, Collins said. The bill would “guarantee access to AM services in all vehicles and protect essential communication tools vital to rural communities,” Collins said.
As of Monday, it was unclear when the proposal would be voted on. The bill was placed on the Senate legislative calendar in September.
