Rural America is isolated from the outside world in a variety of ways, something that a lot of its residents no doubt consider a “perk.” That does not mean they are uninterested in what’s going on and how it’s impacting their communities, though. Often, real local news can only be found on the AM radio dial, including emergency alerts. But this vital resource is under threat of disappearing from car and truck radios and Congress has been slow to move on legislation that would keep AM radio available.
Those who argue against preserving AM radio point to declining listenership, especially among younger people. Ford claims that less than 5% of in-car listening is tuned to AM stations. AM radio critics also point to evidence that Americans mostly get vital emergency information from other sources. Some point to a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in 2023, in which 95% of people received the message via cell phones and only 1% on AM radio.
Supporters of AM radio argue that listenership may be small compared to other forms of media but it is a vital resource to those that do tune in. Research results released by Nielsen showed that more than 82 million Americans listen to AM radio monthly, and listenership is substantially higher in the Midwest than the national average. Separately, Aimpoint Research found that two-thirds of farmers surveyed said they listened to AM stations for information related to their farming operations.
The value of AM radio during a crisis is also far more important than what headline data may indicate. While people may typically rely on cellphones for information, cell service is often not available when disaster strikes. FEMA says AM radio is a principal source for airing emergency alerts. The agency has designated 77 AM stations as “Primary Entry Points,” meaning they are stations that work directly with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during, and after incidents and disasters.
AM radio’s value was most recently – and dramatically – on display following October hurricane Helene. FEMA said that the hardest hit areas were without power and cell and internet networks were knocked out, which meant no internet, no tv, and no cellphones. That made broadcast radio the primary form of communicating vital emergency information to the public. As Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate succinctly explained to The Wall Street Journal, “When all else fails, radio stations are often the last line of communications that communities have.”
A bill that would require vehicles manufacturers to provide access to AM radio in new cars, the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,” has bipartisan support in Congress. However, it’s not clear if lawmakers will get to it in the lame duck session or if the legislation will instead be punted to the next Congress.
Tesla and a few other car manufacturers began removing AM radio from their vehicles several years ago. They claim it’s because electromagnetic signals emitted by EV’s distort sound on AM radio frequencies. EV makers that have kept AM radio available have solved the problem by using special shielding.
A key part of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is that automakers make AM radio available “at no added cost to consumers,” a point that many suspect is a large part of the pushback. The Center for Automotive Research says the passage of the bill would saddle EV carmakers with nearly $4 billion in additional costs by 2030.
Vehicle makers are also incentivized to promote digital and satellite services by getting a cut on those subscription services. But as AM radio fans argue, in rural America, the technologies that connects cars to those services are often not reliable, if there is coverage at all.
According to Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), a supporter of the AM Radio act, VW, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Tesla, Polestar and Rivian have already removed AM from their electric models. Several other companies — including Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Jaguar Land Rover — said they have no plans to eliminate AM. Ford last year reversed its decision to drop the AM band. (Sources: Cumulus, Forbes, FCC)
