Federal legislation to make sure that new vehicles continue to include AM radio, free of charge, is critical for public safety, particularly in rural states such as Maine. Some electric vehicle manufacturers have claimed that the components in their vehicles cause interference with AM. However, this is easily remedied, as Ford Motors today has stated they will preserve AM radio in all of their cars and trucks, including their EVs. This announcement obviously demonstrates that AM radio is compatible with EVs.
Why would automotive manufacturers even get the idea to cancel AM radio? It turns out that manufacturers have financial relationships with other content providers that provide carmakers a revenue stream, such as Sirius XM, streaming internet and other mobile-based technologies. Why provide AM radio – or, for that matter, FM radio – for free when there is money to be made? The bill to mandate that AM radios stay in cars is co-sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and it is critical it passes.
Why is this so important? Isn’t AM radio “dead”? Isn’t it just filled with rageful talk and static and not compatible with music, and, therefore, somewhat not worthy of being standard equipment in all motor vehicles? Not on your life, and I do mean your life! AM radio is unique in its simplicity. Unlike internet-based cellular technologies, which are all highly vulnerable to failure, given the increasing number of adverse weather events, AM always works. The increasing number and severity of storms easily destroy cellular and other wireless internet services owing to their complexity and need for many antennas, which reach only short distances. And many parts of Maine – and the entire United States – do not have broadband wireless internet available to drivers.
Like cellular and mobile-based internet technology, FM radio is vulnerable to severe weather because FM travels only line of sight and the distance depends on the height of the tower and antenna. Not surprisingly, FM broadcasters have been thrown off the air as their towers – often massively tall – come crashing down in severe weather. While FM is great for sound, its physical reach is limited, as mountains and other obstructions block reception, depriving many rural regions of a reliable signal.
Enter AM radio, which is technologically far simpler and more robust than any internet-based signal delivery and does not need towers thousands of feet tall, as FM does. Historically, AM has been available on almost every radio receiver made for nearly a century, making it still easily accessed by all. Critically, unlike FM radio, AM is resilient in bad weather. A downed tower can be replaced with a spool of wire cut to the correct length and tuned with a handful of parts. AM radio is not blocked by mountains and other terrain and is not limited to line of sight like FM, allowing reception in rural areas. In times of emergency, communities served by AM stations can still easily receive important information like weather and Amber Alerts.
Also, in many communities, AM radio offers a voice for many who otherwise would not have an outlet to be heard. Foreign language programming, specifically news and information for communities who otherwise have no voice, frequently is available on AM radio.
AM radio is alive and well. We host a weekly radio show on an AM station, WGAN, called “A Healthy Conversation.” We discuss all sorts of topics that directly and indirectly impact our health, and we are happy to report that our show has motivated many listeners to take life-saving steps during the pandemic. We weekly discuss life-saving strategies we can all embrace.
The bottom line is that AM radio is not just needed, but also can be life-saving in emergencies and reach populations who otherwise would not have life-saving information. As such, let’s keep AM alive and support passage of Sen. Markey’s bill to do so.
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