With Congress on the fence about requiring carmakers to include AM radio, proponents this week are flooding the zone in a huge push to get the sometimes life-saving but old-school technology across the finish line.
Several groups, including first responders, are citing the recent Hurricane Helene disaster in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas as the reason to keep cars and trucks equipped with AM radio.
Many were stranded by the storm and later, without electricity, relied on their AM radios to hear emergency broadcasts and reports about where to get food, water, and shelter.
One group of first responders, for example, wrote in a two-page letter to House and Senate leaders that it is critical to pass the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” to keep people alive.
“During and immediately after Helene, the impacted population relied upon AM radio to navigate their families away from rising water, to receive updates on where to access supplies or shelter, to know which bridges and roads were out and which remained passable, and sometimes just to hear another human’s voice while stranded alone in the dark,” the letter provided to Secrets said.
The letter was signed by several Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina first responders.
“The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will ensure that the public retains access to this vital public safety tool at all times. Not acting on this bill will threaten the safety of Americans in future disasters. We respectfully ask that Congress pass this bill before the Congress adjourns,” they added.
Some carmakers, especially for electric vehicles, are cutting AM from their offerings, claiming the signal is distorted by the power system.
But groups such as the National Association of Broadcasters said AM radio is the best way to transmit emergency messages during disasters. In a briefing book, NAB said, “AM radio plays an essential role in our nation’s emergency communication infrastructure. Its ability to transmit signals over long distances, wide accessibility and superior resiliency have made it an invaluable tool for disseminating critical information during various emergency situations. AM radio’s enduring popularity with the American public and the sense of community it provides to diverse populations also underscore the platform’s value during times of crisis.”
The act would require all new vehicles to be equipped with AM for no additional cost.
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Congress is expected to consider the act this month and might include it in the National Defense Authorization Act.
The letter provided to Secrets said most first responders are on board. It said, “This legislation is supported by the entirety of the public safety community from the federal, state and local levels, who have repeatedly warned that the bill is necessary for protecting the public and keeping them informed before, during and in the wake of disasters. Given how much we and the residents of our home states relied upon AM radio during and in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we have firsthand experience as to why they are correct.”