Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. It seems like the House has passed legislation that would require all new cars to have an AM radio. Yes, you read that right – AM radio, the technology that’s been around for over a century. I guess some things never go out of style. The bill’s backers claim that AM radio is still a vital source of emergency information, and that it’s essential for all Americans to have access to it. Bless their hearts, they’re really trying to keep this old tech alive.
Now, I’m not sure what’s more surprising – the fact that some car manufacturers like Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo have been removing AM radios from their newer models, or that there are still people out there who listen to traditional radio. I mean, who needs Spotify or podcasts when you can tune in to some static-y AM radio, right? But seriously, it seems like the auto industry is trying to phase out AM radio, and the National Association of Broadcasters is fighting to keep it alive.
According to John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, EVs and AM broadcasting technologies don’t always mix. He said that the high-voltage electrical systems in EVs generate electromagnetic interference that can distort AM radio signals, making them sound really static-y. Okay, got it – so AM radio doesn’t work well with electric cars. But does that mean we need to mandate that all new cars have AM radios? It seems like a bit of an overkill to me.
The National Association of Broadcasters is arguing that AM radio is still a critical source of emergency information, especially during events like hurricanes, wildfires, or terrorist attacks. And it’s true, some emergency situations can disrupt cell service or overwhelm networks, blocking phone alerts. But is AM radio really the best solution to this problem? It seems like there are more modern and efficient ways to disseminate emergency information.
Curtis LeGeyt, CEO of the NAB, said that AM radio has a reach and durability that other media just don’t have. And it’s true, AM radio is still used by over 4,000 stations across the country, and 82 million Americans listen to AM radio every month. But is that enough to justify mandating that all new cars have AM radios? It seems like a bit of a stretch to me.
The automakers are objecting to the government interfering in parts of the design that don’t improve the safety of the vehicle, saying that a radio is different from seat belts and air bags. And I kind of see their point – do we really need the government telling us what features our cars should have? But at the same time, if AM radio is really as critical as the NAB claims, then maybe it’s not such a bad idea to mandate it.
The legislation has significant bipartisan support, and its supporters hope it passes in the lame duck session between election day and when the new Congress is seated. If it was put up for a vote tomorrow, it would pass overwhelmingly, according to LeGeyt. So it seems like AM radio is here to stay, at least for a little while longer.
In conclusion, the debate over AM radio in cars is a bit of a joke, but it’s also a serious issue. On the one hand, it’s hard to argue with the idea that AM radio is still a vital source of emergency information. On the other hand, it seems like there are more modern and efficient ways to disseminate this information. But hey, if the government wants to mandate that all new cars have AM radios, who am I to argue? Maybe I’ll just have to start listening to more talk radio – after all, it’s not like I have anything better to do while I’m driving. 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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