AM Radio, A Relic From The Automobile’s Past, Gets A Reprieve

It is difficult to conceive, even for people who were around when AM radio was king, that this was once the dominant form of mass radio communication for the entire country. Everything from breaking news to new hit songs to ball games to local traffic and weather reports were absorbed by millions daily on AM radio in their cars, specific to their domiciles. It’s been around for almost 100 years.

With the development and popularity of the better-sounding FM followed by the corporate takeover of all radio, eliminating deejays and local news in favor of delivering a generic and thus a mass experience in your car, it seemed AM was destined to go the way of roll-down windows and lighters in automobiles. Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Volvo and other automakers had quietly jettisoned AM radio from their new vehicles in recent years.

Then the Government stepped in.

Yesterday, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) celebrated the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s vote to advance the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. Bipartisan and bicameral legislation would direct federal regulators to require automakers to include AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.

But it wasn’t because the Senators wanted to hear “Disco Duck” and “Car Wash” in lo-fi. It’s because AM is one of the surest ways to get local news in an emergency.

“Today’s vote to advance the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act sends a clear signal to carmakers,” said Senator Markey. “AM radio is an essential communication tool during emergencies, and for decades has been a source of news, entertainment, sports, and music for tens of millions of drivers.”

Specifically, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act would:

1. Direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a rule that requires automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their vehicles without a separate or additional payment, fee, or surcharge, while providing extra compliance time for small manufacturers;

2. Require any automaker that sells vehicles without access to AM broadcast radio before the effective date of the NHTSA regulation to clearly disclose to consumers that the vehicle lacks access to AM broadcast radio; and,

3. Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the importance of AM radio as a communication technology during emergencies.

In May, Senators Markey and Cruz led their colleagues in introducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The introduction followed a letter that Senator Markey sent to 20 of the world’s leading carmakers last year requesting that they maintain access to AM broadcast radio in their vehicles. Of the 20 carmakers, eight responded to Senator Markey and shared they had removed AM broadcast radio from their electric vehicles.

For most of us, AM radio is like a fire extinguisher. You may never use it, but you’re glad it’s there.