In a rare display of bipartisanship in Congress, the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently voted 45-2 to require automakers to include AM radio access in new electric vehicle models. As Congress debates the policy implications of this measure, policymakers should consider the many benefits AM radio provides for nontraditional consumers in hard-to-reach parts of the country.
Today, more than 80 million Americans tune into 4,000 AM radio stations monthly for informational updates on sports, spiritual programming, and traffic and weather reports. Due to its low frequency and general reliability, AM radio is the perfect medium for federal, state and local government officials to deliver critical safety information to the public in real time. However, as some automakers roll back AM radio availability, access to this information will suffer, and consumer safety will be at risk.
Hurricanes, tornados and wildfires routinely knock out power lines and phone service, making it difficult for residents to obtain information about threats or emergency relief. If that critical information access pipeline deteriorates, efficient emergency communication relays will be disrupted. AMBER alerts and weather-related emergency communications may go unnoticed until it is too late.
AM radio is the backbone of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Alert System, which is why seven top former FEMA officials have signed letters voicing their support for the AM for Every Vehicle Act.
Americans in Puerto Rico famously relied on AM radio for information after Hurricane Maria. More recently, AM radio served as a lifeline to Asheville, North Carolina, residents grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
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Nate Scherer is a policy analyst with the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visit us at www.TheAmericanConsumer.Org or follow us on X @ConsumerPal.