While many car manufacturers are removing AM and FM radio in favor of streaming apps, Congress is pushing to keep these broadcast technologies, especially AM radio, due to its crucial role in public safety during emergencies.




Those who have purchased a new car since 2014 may have noticed the AM radio button missing on their dashboard. Some are even missing the FM button, both of which have been replaced by other technology, more specifically, a streaming app such as TuneIn. Since internet radio services like TuneIn can offer as many as 100,000 stations, podcasts, live sports, news, and audiobooks, it has left several car makers with the notion that AM and FM are no longer needed in cars, according to Autoweek.

Some of the auto makers jumping on the internet radio streaming bandwagon include General Motors, Lucid, Rivian, Land Rover, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Sony Honda Mobility, XPENG, Great Wall, BYD, and Tesla, according to Autoweek. A few others include BMW, Mazda, and Volkswagen, according to The Hill.

Congress Believes AM Radio Is Better for Public Safety During Emergencies
However, the push for replacing AM and FM radio with digital technology isn’t something that everyone wants to see. Congress has introduced H.R. 979 and S. 315. These pieces of legislation push back on digital and pull toward keeping broadcast radio alive and well.

Congress.gov notes that over 4000 broadcast radio stations transmit their programs on the AM band, which is crucial technology that has been around for over 100 years. Not only does this programming provide news, music, and information, but it also supports national and local emergency alerting systems. Since most people listen to the radio while in their vehicles and radio is still free, AM radio is seen by Congress as critical for the safety of the public in times of natural disasters, severe weather threats, and national emergencies.

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) has been very outspoken about his thoughts on keeping AM radio stations in vehicles. In a press release, he noted that, “…Unlike FM radio, AM radio operates at lower frequencies and longer wavelengths, enabling it to pass through solid objects and travel further than other radio waves. As a result, FEMA’s National Public Warning System – through which FEMA delivers critical safety alerts to the public – operates through broadcast AM radio stations.”

He also pointed out that in a natural disaster or national emergency, the internet may not be available, and cell phone towers may be inoperable, so he intends to continue working to make sure that automakers keep AM radio in all of the vehicles they manufacture.

Broadcast Radio Is Still Informative and Free to the Public
The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) noted that while streaming apps typically require a subscription, AM radio delivers instant news, weather alerts, community updates, sporting events, faith-based programming, agricultural reports, and more without a fee or an insistence on up-charges for premium content. In addition, when the power goes out and cell towers and the internet aren’t functioning, broadcast radio in a car or via a battery-powered radio continues to transmit.

The NRB also claims that the effort to remove broadcast radio goes deeper than internet streaming. Just like algorithms, corporate interests, and social media feeds tend to manipulate the information made available to the public, allowing broadcast radio to be removed and replaced by streaming will have a very similar effect.

The legislation to keep AM radio in every vehicle presently has the support of more than 315 House members and 61 Senators. It’s actually one of the most bipartisan efforts being worked on in Washington at this time.

Source