When the Lights Go Out, AM Radio Still Speaks
I still remember AM radio as a constant presence before apps, the internet, podcasts, and cell phones. In New York, the iconic voice of John Sterling boomed over WABC radio, calling the Yankees game while I rode my bike listening to the Walkman. Who can forget the slogan of 1010 WINS News, “You give us 22 minutes, and we’ll give you the world,” while driving? These AM stations were a basic part of the fabric of our society.
Today, there are many other listening options, but AM radio still has unique attributes necessary for public safety and communication. This is why the House of Representatives passing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act this week is so significant.
In a national capital too often paralyzed by partisan gridlock, the passage of this bill with over 300 cosponsors was a rare and welcome dose of common sense. It would require automakers to include AM radio in all new vehicles at no extra cost to buyers. This was necessary because over the years some automakers, especially those of electric vehicles, have phased them out of cars, citing changing consumer habits and technical interference. (RELATED: Honda OKs the Death of the Stick Shift)
However, this ignores the unique attributes of AM radio. It is a critical public safety tool and an important thread in the fabric of American life. (RELATED: CBS Radio News Signs Off)
Local news, emergency alerts, weather updates, talk programming, sports, and community information do not belong exclusively to one political tribe.
In an era where Republicans and Democrats struggle to agree on the day of the week, their unity on this issue stands out. The bipartisan coalition led by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) led the way in the House. It now heads to the Senate, where a companion bill already enjoys filibuster-proof support. Here also, members of opposition parties, specifically Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), are taking the lead.
They understand that public safety transcends party lines. Local news, emergency alerts, weather updates, talk programming, sports, and community information do not belong exclusively to one political tribe.
Many ordinary Americans and broadcasters pushed this legislation from the sidelines over the years. One of the most tireless advocates has been John Catsimatidis, the owner of New York’s 77 WABC, whose own love of AM radio growing up pushed him to buy the station when it faced possible doom. After the House vote, he captured the moment, stating, “I am glad that common sense has prevailed in Washington, D.C.”
AM signals travel farther than FM and can reach remote areas. They work when batteries in a car still hold a charge, and every other network is down. In an age of sophisticated threats from natural disasters to potential disruptions of satellite and cellular systems, preserving that capability is a matter of community security.
Americans should not have to pay a monthly subscription or rely on a functioning data network to receive emergency information. Radio has always been free. It must remain that way and accessible in the vehicles that millions of people use every day. Lawmakers from both parties responded. That is how democracy is supposed to work when the stakes involve public safety and practical common sense. (RELATED: Fixing the Right to Repair)
AM radio has served this country for over a century. Thanks to a rare display of bipartisan resolve, it will continue to serve for years to come- available in every new vehicle and ready when Americans need it most.
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Capano has been an adjunct political science professor for 25 years and has worked in senior-level positions for New York Republican and Democrat elected officials. X: @bobcapano