To Strengthen America’s Emergency Infrastructure, U.S. Senators Reintroduce AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act
Sen. Reed supports bipartisan bill to bolster U.S. emergency communication infrastructure by keeping AM radios standard in cars
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to ensure Americans can access critical information during any major emergency, a bipartisan group of lawmakers banded together to ensure Americans will continue to be able to access free AM radio in their cars.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) teamed up with Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and forty-two of their Senate colleagues in supporting the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S. 315). This bipartisan legislation would direct federal regulators to require automakers to continue including AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional charge.
Reed says recent extreme weather emergencies such as the North Carolina hurricanes and flooding proved AM radio can be a real lifesaver. When power, internet, and mobile phone service went down, residents could stay updated and navigate their way to safety with the help of AM radio and its reliable, long-range reception.
AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) radio both have sound waves encoded into a signal that can be picked up by receivers. AM signals can travel longer distances than FM ones, reaching around tall buildings and mountains to even remote areas, so they are the preferred method for dispatching emergency alerts. FM radio doesn’t have the same reach, but offers richer sound quality, making it the preferred choice for music listeners.
Looking to cut costs and boost profits, some auto manufacturers want to remove AM radio from their vehicle dashes. Electric vehicle manufacturers note that battery motors interfere with signals and render them more staticky and less pleasurable to listen to than satellite radio and high-tech streaming options. But lawmakers and emergency responders point out that while that may be true during regular commutes, in case of a major emergency, AM radio – which is consistent and free to the public – has proven to be dependable, resilient, and offers the reach to deliver information.
“Keeping radio available is important and AM radio is a dependable option. If there is a major emergency at the local, state, or national level, drivers shouldn’t be cut off from critical safety alerts. At home or on the road, AM radio is a reliable platform for getting timely information to listeners and especially in an emergency. When disaster strikes, we need a multi-layered communication system in place to reach people and AM radio is a trusted part of that system. So I support keeping AM radio in cars and urge Congress to pass the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,” said Senator Reed.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with state and local officials, relies on AM radio to transmit emergency alerts and communicate with the public during natural disasters and other emergencies. The bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has been endorsed by former FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, who also served as the head of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA).
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), there are currently over 4,420 AM stations across the nation.
In addition to Markey and Reed, the Senate bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators: Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Justice (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-Kan ), Chris Murphy (D-CT ), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N H), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN ), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).