As Congress considers legislation to keep AM radio in vehicle dashboards, broadcast leaders are underscoring what they say is the medium’s unmatched role in public safety, rural communication, and local service. Speaking in a new video series produced by the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) President Jeff Nalley and National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) President Jim Winston outlined why passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R.979/S. 315) is essential.
“Our goal is to continue to have the ability with terrestrial radio to serve the needs of the agriculture producer in the country,” said Nalley. “There are so many areas of the nation where broadband is not available. So, whether it’s a weather emergency or whether it’s the reason that commodity prices are moving the way they are, in some cases, the radio is the only way that these people of the soil are able to stay in touch with this news.”
Winston emphasized AM radio’s value as a trusted information source. “Radio is free,” he said. “In the visible world, there are millions of publishers… that leads to a great deal of misinformation online. For our listeners, the radio voice that they’ve been listening to for 10, 20, or 30 years is the trusted voice.”
Recalling natural disasters, Nalley pointed to times when AM radio was the only lifeline. “We got two inches of ice. It took down cell phone towers. It took down power lines, and the only way that people could get information was radio,” he said. “We tied all seven of our sticks together and we moved past entertainment and to the point of telling people where they could find food and where they could find fuel.”
He continued: “When severe weather comes, where is their source of information? When you pick up your phone and say, ‘Can you hear me now?’ It’s a trusted voice, and it’s a dependent voice on serving its community.”
Kansas Association of Broadcasters President Allison Mazzei noted the momentum behind AM radio advocacy over the last couple of years has really centered on the Emergency Alert System and how AM acts as “the backbone” of EAS.
Responding, Nalley asked, “Are we just going to write off the millions of people that are in their cars at that time? I mean, you have a system that works. You have radio stations that, in order to maintain their license, we have to have an EAS system online that the government can take control. And now you’re saying this group of people because they’re in a vehicle… we’re no longer worried about you?”
Winston also addressed misconceptions about who listens to AM. “We have AM members who have old R&B oldies format, who have gospel, who are doing news, pop, even hip-hop,” he said. “If you’re the only station in town — you’re delivering whatever the population there wants.”
“This is about a quality of life,” Nalley added. “There are niches in our community that want to hear these things. It’s our radio, and it’s our people, and it’s our community. And these are the things that go away. AM radio is golden.”
‘The Problem Is One Of Desire’
Winston also emphasized the economic impact if AM is removed from vehicles. “Radio has always survived by drive time. If you’ve got cars that are not able to receive [AM], that obviously cuts into your audience significantly,” he said. Winston also challenged claims that electric vehicles can’t support AM: “When the legislation was announced, one of the major car manufacturers the very next week [said], ‘Oh guess what, we’ve solved the technical problems.’ So if one manufacturer can solve the problem in a week, the problem is one of desire.”
As for legislative momentum, Winston said NABOB has been working very closely with the NAB on this issue in Washington. Nalley stressed grassroots action is also required.
“We’re making it very clear to our listeners that this information is important,” Nalley said. He urged people to “bring that up face to face” with lawmakers.
“We are about the business of helping the people that we are licensed to,” Nalley said, offering a message for broadcasters to deliver. “Help me, help you. Help us continue to help you.”
Winston also has a simple message for consumers, “If you’re going shopping for that vehicle, ask if I’m going to be able to get AM radio,” he said. “And if they say no, walk away.”
