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Car Industry Seeks to Crush AM Radio; Congress May Rescue It
WSJ ^ | 28 January 2024 | Julie Bykowicz & Ted Mann

Posted on 01/28/2024 3:10:41 AM PST by NautiNurse

Conservative talk show hosts, FEMA are fighting carmakers, tech industries in lobbying battle over drive-time radio

A motley crew of AM radio advocates, including conservative talk show hosts like Hugh Hewitt and federal emergency officials, are lobbying Congress to stop carmakers from dropping the old medium from new vehicles.

Tesla, Volvo, and BMW are among the companies that have already stopped providing AM tuners in some models. Last year Ford said it would join them—until CEO Jim Farley reversed course “after speaking with policy leaders.”

[Snip]

Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and Ed Markey (D., Mass.) are leading the Senate effort, and on the House side, Speaker Mike Johnson—himself a former conservative talk radio host in Louisiana—and progressive “squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are among about 200 co-sponsors.

[Snip]

Moore said the bills’ opponents are at a disadvantage because “every member of Congress knows their local broadcaster. Those relationships are strong.”

[Snip]

Automakers say the rise of electric vehicles is driving the shift away from AM, because onboard electronics create interference with AM radio signals—a phenomenon that “makes the already fuzzy analog AM radio frequency basically unlistenable,” according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a car-industry trade group. Shielding cables and components to reduce interference would cost carmakers $3.8 billion over seven years, the group estimates.

[Snip]

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says that more than 75 radio stations, most of which operate on the AM band and cover at least 90% of the U.S. population, are equipped with backup communications equipment and generators that allow them to continue broadcasting information to the public during and after an emergency.

[Snip]

Automakers increasingly want to put radio and other car features “behind a paywall...They see this as another profit center..."

[Snip]

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: amradio; automotive; ev; radio; talkradio
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To: Erik Latranyi
If auotmakers want to drop AM, that is fine.

It it?

AM Radio’s Essential Role in the Emergency Alert System

21 posted on 01/28/2024 4:10:33 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Nothing says "democracy" like trying to throw your opponent in jail.)
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To: Erik Latranyi

So, Congress will mandate that people carry cell phones to pick up emergency broadcasts?

Emergency traffic and weather broadcasts are often on AM because people driving have a receiver. There seems to be a hole, if you start dropping AM from the vehicles.

I think the analysis that the car-makers want you to pay for Sirius and other pay-audio solutions is the correct one.

I’m not big on gov’t involvement, either, but their hands are all over the radio waves and your automobile. This country tried to set up a system where the airwaves were as useful as the roads. Now, we all live in New Jersey.


22 posted on 01/28/2024 4:17:11 AM PST by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: NautiNurse
I'm old enough to remember when car/truck radios were an option on the cheaper models, and they came with a blank in the dashboard, or a storage box in the dash in the place of the radio.

(Also, when power windows and air conditioning were mostly found on luxury models, people knew how to shift for themselves, and most cars/trucks were available with three pedals...those were the days!)

I don't disagree that an AM radio may be a good thing to have (although I haven't listened much since Rush died), but if radios weren't required by the gov't in cars and trucks before, AM radios shouldn't be required by the gov't now.

23 posted on 01/28/2024 4:29:10 AM PST by Sooth2222 (“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite.” /"Every nation has the government it deserves.” )
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To: Sooth2222

Good points, well taken. When option for AM radio goes the way of the dinosaurs, will an AM compatible vehicle antenna be an option?


24 posted on 01/28/2024 4:37:00 AM PST by NautiNurse (🇺🇸 Bidenomics: "Over a billion three hundred million trillion three hundred million dollars!")
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To: Sooth2222

25 posted on 01/28/2024 5:06:37 AM PST by Sooth2222 (“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite.” /"Every nation has the government it deserves.” )
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To: NautiNurse

And streaming is another way to simultaneously make you poorer while identifying your location and invading what’s left if your privacy.

A three-fer for Deep State.


26 posted on 01/28/2024 5:09:45 AM PST by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: NautiNurse

My understanding is that the AM antenna has always been a small device within the radio, itself.

When AM reception stops being a concern for the car, the car will probably become a noisy emitter at those frequencies, which might make reception impossible.

I believe that the government has sunk a lot of money into emergency AM broadcasting. Oh, well. At least it wasn’t their money.


27 posted on 01/28/2024 5:10:55 AM PST by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: NautiNurse

I probably disagree with Rand Paul in one issue out of ten thousand.

This is that issue.


28 posted on 01/28/2024 5:14:40 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: mewzilla

I wonder how much college and pro sports may have to do with thi

Are more people than Deep State et al would like listening to the games on radio rather watching or streaming...


29 posted on 01/28/2024 5:14:59 AM PST by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: NautiNurse

“ Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a car-industry trade group. Shielding cables and components to reduce interference would cost carmakers $3.8 billion over seven years, the group estimates.”

It’s interesting that they chose 7 years, circa 2030. I would love to see the actual variables used. Did they assume every car on the road will be EV to comply with net zero?

Is so, that’s $13.57 per vehicle. Sounds about right but, oh, such a scary number. An alternative narrative would be 3 gallons of gas in California. For the greenies it converts to 26kw, or less than an hour of charging time for your EV. One salad at Whole Foods salad bar.

Such drama.

EC


30 posted on 01/28/2024 5:24:10 AM PST by Ex-Con777
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To: Fireone

The mayor and his hate for Trump sometimes makes him hard to listen to.


31 posted on 01/28/2024 5:25:45 AM PST by cableguymn
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To: NautiNurse
Ever since I got wifi, I've been unable to get clear AM signals on my radio.

Now when I want to listen to AM, I use iHeart over my internet connection.

32 posted on 01/28/2024 5:31:18 AM PST by Angelino97
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To: NautiNurse

“The auto industry is marketing lucrative subscription services for audio and GPS.”

Anymore, at least for me when driving, the competition for radio and the endless commercials is silence. I suspect its not entirely just me being old and grumpy.

There really is little reason to turn on the radio.

Streaming services can be just as bad. I believe the “Ad supported model” in broadcast/streaming simply doesnt work and is detrimental to providing anything of entertainment value.

I also posit that most if not all internet content cannot be profitable - because there is no way they make it worthwhile to sit through ads, and nobody can afford to “go ad free” on every individual information/entertainment service they may happen upon.


33 posted on 01/28/2024 5:45:00 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: Fai Mao

AM carries a lot farther than FM radio. FM stations are good for maybe a 40 mile radius from the tower. I have often listened to AM stations 100+ miles away during the daytime. At night the range increases. So from an emergency viewpoint (natural AND man made), it makes sense to continue the capability of longer range communication, even if only one way.


34 posted on 01/28/2024 5:49:01 AM PST by MRadtke (Light a candle or curse the darkness?)
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To: Empire_of_Liberty

Just a guess, but I would think the car manufacturer would enable to AM only to broadcast emergency warnings for free of course.
Nearly every industry is trying to move towards subscription fees as well as leasing. In the future you will rent and subscribe to things…..not own them.


35 posted on 01/28/2024 5:54:52 AM PST by cornfedcowboy ( )
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To: Erik Latranyi

There is no such thing as an electric vehicle and that thing in your pocket is not a phone.

One is a computer you carry in your pocket and the other is a computer that carries you in its pocket. Both for the convenience of government.

Consumers did not ask to be forcibly converted to electric vehicles, certain elements in the government said we had to.

How about dropping the electric vehicle scam and then they dont have to worry if AM works or not?


36 posted on 01/28/2024 6:20:42 AM PST by gnarledmaw (Hivemind liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives select servants.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

AM radio is essential in evaluating emergency areas.The more information the better.


37 posted on 01/28/2024 6:29:43 AM PST by cnsmom
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To: NautiNurse

There is a technical reason for this.

AM radios in electric cars require a bunch of “insulation” from the electric engine. This adds complexity to the radio and pounds to the car.

Anyone who has ever tried to use an AM radio near a cheap fan knows that the radio signal is interrupted and you get wicked noise coming out of the speaker. Now imagine that against the huge battery bank and electric motor.

In electric cars every ounce needs to be accounted for. Extra weight means less effective range. Especially in the cold. Ha ha.

I know everyone wants to make this political…it’s not. It’s practical.

I don’t much care for electric vehicles. The government has caused this crap due to their regulations and targets. Don’t blame the manufacturers. It’s not their fault. It’s physics.


38 posted on 01/28/2024 6:35:06 AM PST by Vermont Lt (Don’t vote for anyone over 70 years old. Get rid of the geriatric politicians.)
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To: odawg

I dont know enough about the radio industry to have any guess why this is but there does seem to be a big difference depending on the market you live in.

I have a large number of AM options. Far too many devoted to some culty or sports nonsense but there is talk and music also including some stations broadcasting on both AM/FM.

Most of these are local but not all of them. Someone above mentioned something like “AM goes 100+ miles.” Definitely the “+”, Im nearly all the way to Canada and I used to regularly listen to a station from Missouri.


39 posted on 01/28/2024 6:49:42 AM PST by gnarledmaw (Hivemind liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives select servants.)
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To: gnarledmaw

“AM goes 100+ miles.”

Those clear channel stations go for hundreds. WWL in New Orleans has been picked up in Europe.


40 posted on 01/28/2024 6:58:33 AM PST by odawg
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