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BumRushDaShow

(129,137 posts) Mon Mar 11, 2024, 04:35 PM Mar 11

Save Our Signal! Politicians close in on votes needed to keep AM radio in every car [View all]

Source: AP

Updated 2:00 PM EDT, March 11, 2024

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The signal might be fading, but it can’t be lost. That’s the message from politicians who are closing in on the required number of votes needed to pass federal legislation that requires AM radios in every new car.

The prevalence of AM broadcast radio has dipped in recent decades as more listeners turn to options such as satellite radio and podcasts during drivetime. But a large, bipartisan group of lawmakers believes saving the AM dial is critical to public safety, especially in rural America, and they want to ensure access to it via car radios.

“The emergency alert system works on the AM spectrum - that’s where people get information about emergencies,” said independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. “It’s a critical source of information, particularly in rural areas that might not have clear access to an FM signal.”

King, and Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, are among dozens of lawmakers supporting the AM for Every Vehicle Act. Lawmakers first proposed the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate last year, and it has gained a wave of new cosponsors in recent weeks. There are now enough cosponsors to pass the bill in the House, and the Senate is only a few sponsors away, federal records state.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/car-am-radios-congress-8aaf5e7b0f6d58fc4d23f4ca679bd357

91 replies

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Save Our Signal! Politicians close in on votes needed to keep AM radio in every car [View all] BumRushDaShow Mar 11 OP

These are the same people who don't want rural areas to have cheap reliable internet service RainCaster Mar 11 #1

And AM Bible Thumpers, too. Let's not forget them. littlemissmartypants Mar 11 #30

When I worked in radio melm00se Mar 11 #33

Thanks for sharing Auggie Mar 12 #49

Interesting, thanks. intrepidity Mar 12 #52

IIRC melm00se Mar 12 #63

That is what we were told ChazII Mar 14 #90

In my house Arne Mar 11 #2

Exactly the same here Farmer-Rick Mar 12 #77

What a ridiculous waste of time. Think. Again. Mar 11 #3

"Carmakers shouldn't tune out AM radio in new vehicles or put it behind a costly digital paywall," Sen. Edward Markey, D FredGarvin Mar 11 #4

I agree with this. Elessar Zappa Mar 11 #5

These are helpful for motorists. Some amusement parks parking-lots have low-power info stations. Oopsie Daisy Mar 11 #9

And those info stations are very low-power broadcast through antennas in the road localroger Mar 11 #16

National and State Parks have those signs nt yellowdogintexas Mar 11 #26

It's the power. mwooldri Mar 12 #54

I would agree ... Conditionally though. mwooldri Mar 12 #53

I say let it die. tazkcmo Mar 11 #6

exactly... myohmy2 Mar 11 #7

I get "Amber" alerts on my cellphone. Weather alerts on my cellphone. I own a 2003 Ford pickup. AM radio has...... usaf-vet Mar 11 #8

I like the idea of something available to virtually everyone... thesquanderer Mar 11 #10

"depend on having a multi-hundred dollar device" prodigitalson Mar 11 #36

New cars eventually become become used cars. (n/t) thesquanderer Mar 11 #40

and still more than hundreds of dollars prodigitalson Mar 11 #41

You're missing my point. People need to buy cars. thesquanderer Mar 11 #43

Yeah, free is better Farmer-Rick Mar 12 #80

I am no fan of the most popular AM content, but it is important localroger Mar 11 #11

A $3 am radio from the thrift store is as good as a $30,000 radio on wheels. usonian Mar 11 #13

Yes, but nobody thinks of getting that radio until it's too late localroger Mar 11 #14

Just being devil's advocate. usonian Mar 11 #17

FM circuitry was part of cellphones mwooldri Mar 12 #57

Software-defined radios are quite flexible and can capture any radio broadcast in any mode - if programmed to do so. LastDemocratInSC Mar 12 #79

exactly. just duct tape it to the dash... Layzeebeaver Mar 11 #15

I am running out of black electrical tape usonian Mar 11 #18

How did you find a decector that doesn't go off 'cause laser proximity devices and and radar distance warning?? ArkansasDemocrat1 Mar 11 #22

It's an old unit that I FORTUNATELY never needed for years, being careful. usonian Mar 11 #25

Waze was a great app for a while, it let you know where all but the most recent speed traps were and navigation ArkansasDemocrat1 Mar 12 #82

Conspiracy theory. usonian Mar 11 #12

it's like a law requiring every strip mall to have a Radio Shack and a Blockbuster (with VHS rentals) prodigitalson Mar 11 #19

No, its not. former9thward Mar 11 #34

in terms of usefulness - I realize its more doable (which makes it an even worse idea) prodigitalson Mar 11 #35

Well once upon a time. Voltaire2 Mar 12 #62

The radio band is controlled/regulated by the FCC. former9thward Mar 12 #73

The FCC is a prime example of a captive Voltaire2 Mar 12 #75

That would be amazing Polybius Mar 11 #42

I suggest a bill to require that all automobiles come with a buggy whip. TomSlick Mar 11 #20

During my recent car shopping maxrandb Mar 11 #21

My 2019 Rogue has a CD player. The slot is so thin, I didn't see it right away yellowdogintexas Mar 11 #27

I remember a brief time (early20 teens) that I used to load up mp3 files on a thumb drive prodigitalson Mar 11 #38

I still do that. Aussie105 Mar 12 #59

yeah. I guess I still could. I think when I got sat radio that became my thing prodigitalson Mar 12 #81

Years ago my vehicles had Arne Mar 11 #23

The signal might be fading, but it can't be lost. area51 Mar 11 #24

OTA AM signals melm00se Mar 11 #28

I remember in the 70s NanaCat Mar 12 #50

the 50kW clear station melm00se Mar 12 #64

AM talk radio really sucks where I live. SouthernDem4ever Mar 11 #29

Backup plans are important. We may not like it but we may well need it. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Mar 11 #31

Hey Good Lookin', we'll be back to pick you up later! JoseBalow Mar 11 #32

I had one of those prodigitalson Mar 11 #37

I actually had one of those metal stud-setters BumRushDaShow Mar 12 #55

I'll take my chances without AM radio not a texan Mar 11 #39

can you tell the difference between an MP3 or a lossless audio file with so much road noise? pstokely Mar 12 #45

Strangely, nobody is discussing exactly why this is happening. truthisfreedom Mar 12 #44

Yes even my lawn lights MotownPgh Mar 12 #69

but how many will notice either way pstokely Mar 12 #46

We use it occasionally for alerts and we listen to sports. LisaM Mar 12 #47

WCPT 820 AM is Chicago's progressive talk station EJRocketMan Mar 12 #48

Maybe! ATL is the exact opposite Ursus Rex Mar 12 #78

I couldn't drive to work without updated and regular traffic reports. no_hypocrisy Mar 12 #51

Some culling of low budget or political/biblical indoctrination AM stations wouldn't go amiss. Aussie105 Mar 12 #56

It is ridiculous to even speak of such a bill when... Hermit-The-Prog Mar 12 #58

Long live the Froe! Aussie105 Mar 12 #60

It is the very basis of civilization! Hermit-The-Prog Mar 12 #61

oh goody they want to save AM radio but boot tiktoc.. samnsara Mar 12 #65

A bottomless snake pit of idiocy. Voltaire2 Mar 12 #67

Corrupt giveaway to clear channel. Voltaire2 Mar 12 #66

But take note of this -- BumRushDaShow Mar 12 #68

AM radio is mostly right wing hate political and religious and sports. I couldn't care less about any doc03 Mar 12 #70

They're already on their sister FM stations. LeftInTX Mar 13 #83

None of the local FM stations are talk. nt doc03 Mar 14 #89

A lot of it is conservative hate radio IronLionZion Mar 12 #71

I haven't commented in here until now but BumRushDaShow Mar 12 #72

That's good to know and worth saving IronLionZion Mar 12 #74

I think the problem is that people are complaining about "the programming" on AM radio BumRushDaShow Mar 12 #76

Then there is Tradio. The Grand Illuminist Mar 14 #86

for those who haven't of craigslist pstokely Mar 14 #87

I have not listened to AM in years Progressive dog Mar 13 #84

Terrestrial radio overall is dying pstokely Mar 13 #85

Vinyl records were "dying" or "dead" BumRushDaShow Mar 14 #88

FM radio stations are still surviving Progressive dog Mar 15 #91