Ford to drop AM radio in new vehicles

[TRG]

You think there are mom and pop AM stations anymore? LOL......

I cant speak for other parts of the country but yes, we have a few independent AM stations in my listening area.

 

[AZ.]

I cant speak for other parts of the country but yes, we have a few independent AM stations in my listening area.

Nice to hear, that is not the norm. Just like our local TV stations, then they hold dozens of city hostage for more money. And we all have seen that first hand with Dish and Direct!

 

[telstar_1]

Do they (tv locals) get those kinds of eyeball fees from streaming as well?

 

[Jimbo]

Over 70 senators are backing this bill. It's likely to pass.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/315

I read parts of that ... it says that Emergency Alerts come on AM Radio ...
Well, if they Don't also come on the rest of the options, FM, Sat ... you Only hear them on Am ???
Most people don't listen to Am anymore (most, not all) .... Keeping AM for Alerts is Useless.

 

[harshness]

No one but Corporate AM talk radio!

Around here, much of the talk radio is moving (or has moved) to FM.

 

[AZ.]

Around here, much of the talk radio is moving (or has moved) to FM.

Maybe that a reason they(Ford) are thinking of dropping it? Sure know the small station dont have the cash and lobbyist to keep AM alive.

 

[harshness]

I read parts of that ... it says that Emergency Alerts come on AM Radio ...

It has been my experience that Emergency Alerts (weather, Amber alerts) also come on commercial FM and TV stations (not necessarily the public ones).

AM is used for localized rural traffic warnings according to the road signs that I see. Unfortunately, my local AM station (KBZY) goes to recorded programming at 3-6pm, so I have to tune the public access station (KMUZ FM) in hopes of finding out what's going on with traffic from a listener who takes the time to call it in.

 

[TRG]

I read parts of that ... it says that Emergency Alerts come on AM Radio ...
Well, if they Don't also come on the rest of the options, FM, Sat ... you Only hear them on Am ???
Most people don't listen to Am anymore (most, not all) .... Keeping AM for Alerts is Useless.

Nobody said anything about "Only" hearing Emergency Alerts on AM radio.
Lots of people who live in rural America listen to AM radio. In many cases FM signals cannot penetrate nearly as far as AM. Those people deserve Emergency Alerts, news/weather too. Those alerts and information on AM are useless to YOU. Somebody living out in the sticks may be relying on it.

 

[harshness]

Maybe that a reason they(Ford) are thinking of dropping it?

There are some important obstacles to vehicular AM support as I see it:

• Interference from various automotive electronic devices (especially high-energy ignition and fuel injection systems)
• Antenna placement options
• AM tuners are more costly to implement from an electronics standpoint

 

[HipKat]

The biggest SportsTalk station in Buffalo is an a.m. station…

 

[TRG]

The End of AM Radio? The National Association of Broadcasters Hopes to Save It | Cord Cutters News

In a rare display of cross-party unity amid a fractious political landscape, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is hailing an “August Surge” of support for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, a bill aimed at preserving AM radio as a standard safety feature in all new automobiles. As...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[harshness]

Of course, the NAB is supporting AM radio. Keeping AM around is a win for them, as it makes broadcast technology look relevant, while having no impact on their spectrum. They may not have the same interest in preserving FM radio.

 

[AZ.]

Billions invested in am for over 50 years....like they like to lose money....to funny....big money hates to lose anything

 

[radio]

The End of AM Radio? The National Association of Broadcasters Hopes to Save It | Cord Cutters News

In a rare display of cross-party unity amid a fractious political landscape, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is hailing an “August Surge” of support for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, a bill aimed at preserving AM radio as a standard safety feature in all new automobiles. As...

cordcuttersnews.com

Well now!
First off, as a small market broadcaster, I can tell you the NAB only does what makes THEM look good to their (bigger market and government) followers and supporters, they do NOT speak for the small independent operator. If they did, their dues and their attitude would reflect it.

Secondly, let's put to bed the "Emergency Alert" BS about AM. EVERY licensed station has to have the equipment operational or get fined by the government. The reason all these articles hang their hats on "Emergencies" is it is FASHIONABLE to do so, and makes them look like they know what's going on.

Thirdly: Only believe the representatives who actually have SIGNED ON to any bills regarding preserving AM radio. The rest can lie through their teeth and get away with it, like Michigan's Gary Peters. He sent the same form letter "supporting" the AM band to me as an operator and to a listener, then voted AGAINST the initial idea officially. So, if your representatives have NOT signed on yet (and I have not seen the list) don't believe a word until they DO sign on.

Finally: The elimination of AM in modern (electrically operated or heavily electronified) cars has NOTHING to do with interference caused that makes reception bad. It has EVERYTHING to do with corporate GREED. There's more than one manufacturer of automobile who has licked the problem without major cost or worry (the problem of the noise of all the electronics)...and...there are some who oppose this because their vehicles do NOT meet FCC part 15 rules for interference. Some of them on the road now can pass someone listening to AM and literally obliterate reception in an adjoining car. In a nutshell, this IS ILLEGAL and they don't want to admit the problem, thus, not FIXING the problem, passing AM off as not important.

I've got news for the naysayers. Many communities have ONLY an AM, often locally owned in small town USA to depend on. Its usually a station where the owner and staff LOVE what they do and do it well. It's time the FCC helps with an "AM Awareness Campaign" much like they did with TV in the original digital conversion era. After all, we PAY as broadcasters every year a thing called "Regulatory Fees" to KEEP a license issued to us on AM and FM for 8-year periods of time...and if we don't, we LOSE the license. Put simply, we PAY for the rights to serve the public, and the FCC has done NOTHING to promore AM radio other than allow stations to get FM translators which should NEVER have been given to the big 50KW stations whose AM reach is already far beyond small-town stations' reach which really NEEDED them.

The FCC is a grubby, greedy Federal organization that doesn't give a hoot about local AM radio, yet....collects THOUSANDS of dollars times HUNDREDS of stations every year for their own funding via mandatory regulatory fees. It's time they do something FOR us and stop hiding behind the "we can't mandate AM in vehicles" routine and maybe tell the public that AM is STILL OUT THERE DOING IT'S JOB in many cases.

And, if the bastards win in big corporations that don't want AM in their cars due to "cost" as they have come out and said, they'd damn well better be ready to help small stations with the costs of streaming because the music industry is on a warpath with "Radio" and we get charged per-listener per hour for our online services alone. I think any manufacturer hanging their hats on "use your internet to listen to AM stations" can help me and others PAY FOR what they're asking of the public.

....That felt good.

 

[navychop]

Don't hold back, tell us what you really think!