New AM Radio Bill

dilettante

dilettante

Well-known Member
Location
Michigan
Did you know that automakers have started dropping AM radio support?

Good news for anyone who’s ever relied on AM radio — whether it’s for local news, sports, or life-saving alerts in a crisis. First, some context: car manufacturers have been phasing out AM radios from new models, and now the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" is heading toward a Senate vote after clearing the Commerce Committee back on February 5th. With bipartisan support and an endorsement from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, this bill could ensure AM radio stays in every new car. But why is this even a fight?
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U.S. Senate Takes MAJOR Step with New AM Radio Bill
 

I relied on AM radio for my morning commute, during my working years, but these days I could get the information from my iPhone just as easily.

I can’t believe that it represents much of a cost savings to the auto manufacturers.
 

It might be because they used to have the emergency broadcast come over AM radio stations. I remember every now and then the stations would announce that they were testing the emergency broadcast system, and then there would be a tone over the radio, and then they would announce that this was just a test.
If people are not listening to the car radio, I really do not see any other reason for having to have one in every vehicle; but if we did have some kind of disaster, then people in their cars could turn on the radio for emergency information.
 
The main argument is that during emergencies pretty much all other information sources break down. Stuff that rubes pay for like satellite radio do not cover anything local. In disaster situations cellular service breaks down due to loss of electrical infrastructure, tower damage, and congestion as millions of old women try to reach their cats. Keep in mind that FM radio is impractical in mountainous areas as well.

CBS Highlights AM Radio's Life-Saving Role in Hurricane Helene - Radio Ink
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, radio became a crucial source of communication for residents cut off from internet and cell phone service. Now one Asheville AM station has received national recognition for the life-saving information and connection they provided.

iHeartMedia’s WWNC-AM, air talent Mark Starling, and producer Tank Spencer were the subject of Thursday night’s “Eye on America” segment on the CBS Evening News.
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I think the main "cost" issues have to do with suppressing and shielding all of the electrical noise created in modern cars.
 
That Lady in PA said:
What a silly thing to waste time on… I don’t know anyone still listening to AM radio, car or home.
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Hmmm...well check Michael's reply #4.

Re OP: I'm actually surprised they haven't done it sooner. The newer cars have access to Sirius radio, where listening tastes can be personalized and access to hook up your phone so you can play your playlists. The only time I listen to radio is to support the deejays and broadcasters I know. Those programs are on internet stations. My son had a weekly show playing House music on one, which was actually an audio/visual experience. I just guested on another last Saturday and the Saturday before.
 
I believe that in this case though it's about a technology that has safety and security attributes that are valuable in time of emergency.

For all of its warts, AM broadcasting has advantages over the alternatives. It can get over and between obstacles that TV and FM radio just cannot. It can carry very local and regional news and information coverage that satellite just does not offer. It works during power and Internet outages and does not rely on a large number of working cellular antenna arrays.

During "good times" its value does diminish. All-Digital MA3 mode AM-band broadcasting still has not gone far beyond a very few test stations.

All-Digital AM - HD Radio
 
Amplitude Modulation, or AM is essential communications when SHTF. Frequency Modulation, or FM has to fight the curve of the earth whereas AM bounces off the ionosphere. AM/SSB signals are the only communications that would exist after a Nuclear War.

I drove semi's over the road and one learns to find AM stations. Art Bell and his coast to coast radio would have never existed. Or Rush Limbaugh.
 
I recall when radio stations started to be automated. Cheaper. More profitable. Less enjoyable. Far less useful. (n)

We still have one station (AM) that broadcasts "live" in this area. A real person. In real time. We listen to it frequently. (y)
 
We could all telegram our Congress members to let them know our views on AM radio; but when was the last time, you went down to the telegram office to send a telegram. OR we could send an email. There are outdated technologies, and I think AM radio is one of them. There still is FM which broadcasts in stereo. Getting rid of AM radio would free up much needed bandwidth for other uses.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
We could all telegram our Congress members to let them know our views on AM radio; but when was the last time, you went down to the telegram office to send a telegram. OR we could send an email. There are outdated technologies, and I think AM radio is one of them.
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I think you missed the point.
fuzzybuddy said:
There still is FM which broadcasts in stereo.
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Again. The FM Broadcast band is only useful where line-of-sight short-haul communication is practical. Lots of people live where there isn't any FM at all due to geography.

And yes, AM stereo and digital HD AM both coexist with analog AM today. There just isn't enough demand to prod broadcasters to invest in those.
fuzzybuddy said:
Getting rid of AM radio would free up much needed bandwidth for other uses.
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Nobody is clamoring for access to the medium-wave AM Broadcast band. Nobody. There is also the all-but-empty longwave band nobody covets either.
 
I live in a small rural community and rely on the one AM station in my area for local community news and weather conditions which could be missed by larger stations over 60 miles away. I suppose I could find a transistor radio to carry in my car, but I want the convenience of AM radio in my car.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I live in a small rural community and rely on the one AM station in my area for local community news and weather conditions which could be missed by larger stations over 60 miles away. I suppose I could find a transistor radio to carry in my car, but I want the convenience of AM radio in my car.
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And imagine being hemmed in by floods, possibly with electricity, phone, and cellular service erratic or completely out. How the heck are you expected to know what's being done about it, timeframes, evacuation notices, etc?
 
That Lady in PA said:
What a silly thing to waste time on… I don’t know anyone still listening to AM radio, car or home.
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The AM radio was important for me & my family for news & weather in 2008 when Hurricane Ike went through Ohio. I still listen to it for local news in the car.

We had lost our power for 5 days which meant no TV for news. Other areas was out longer then we was. Landline phones went down for some, so they had no way to use them unless they had a cell. However, a few cell towers went out because they had damage so that resulted in no coverage.

AM is still important as others have already said here. I hope I don't have to rely on it like before, but I want it there if I need it.
 
I haven't listened to FM in decades, especially for the music. I even forgot those cheesy stations exist. It's all AM for me. News, talk shows and interesting late shows and old radio.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
"Satellite radio means you pay ongoing fees, and you don't get local coverage."

I think this is what it's all about whenever we lose any free broadcasting. It started with TV, and now their radar is on AM radio.
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You got weather on your Apple phone, no matter where you are.
The guy (Smiling Jack) doesn't sit alone in a shed of an AM tower
with much but B.S. with his other good foolery and lies. People don't
Show up on Friday night to play their 45 RPM's anymore. Your 60 years out of it.
 
papa tiger said:
You got weather on your Apple phone, no matter where you are.
The guy (Smiling Jack) doesn't sit alone in a shed of an AM tower
with much but B.S. with his other good foolery and lies.
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Regardless of the weather, I rather like hearing Smiling Jack and the country and western music he plays, his news of local garage sales, community interests, community meetings and projects, none of which I get on Satellite or an Apple phone.

Also, I have no use for Apple phones and don't plan to own one. My rural community has a large senior population, and I know several of them who only have landline phones. Of the seniors who DO have cell phones, many only have "flip phones," which are not very useful for weather. I've noticed from reading the forum that many of our members also use flip phones.
 
dilettante said:
Keep in mind that FM radio is impractical in mountainous areas as well.
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fish creek said:
Amplitude Modulation, or AM is essential communications when SHTF. Frequency Modulation, or FM has to fight the curve of the earth whereas AM bounces off the ionosphere. AM/SSB signals are the only communications that would exist after a Nuclear War.
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Interesting. Cannot imagine why automakers haven't considered this.
 

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