Why You Should Care About AM Radio in Every Vehicle

As a career radio person, I'm used to people taking radio for granted. It's fun to talk about your Spotify playlist, or what podcasts you're currently binging. I love digital audio myself. However, local broadcast and audio streaming are not in the same business; we're not replacements for one another. Radio's primary function is to serve a local community, and streaming/digital audio is entertainment. That's why when Ford said they were taking AM Radio out of the dashboard a few weeks ago, over 200,000 Americans sent letters to their U.S. Representatives last week to ask them to protect it. This week, Broadcasters from all over America will land in Washington DC, on Tuesday to fight to protect AM Radio. As one of those lobbyists, I'll ensure our Representatives understand why AM is so important. Here's what I'll be telling them, and here's why you should care:

1. AM Radio is reliable. During severe weather or a local emergency, AM Radio reaches 90% of people in America, and they can tune in quickly and with no barriers to get immediate and relevant information. During a severe storm, power, Wi-Fi, and cellular reception can be intermittent or completely down. AM Radio will be there for you. You can get it in your car or on a battery-operated emergency radio, so wherever you are, you can stay informed and protect yourself and your family.
2. AM Radio is trusted. During a community emergency like a fire or active shooter, Twitter and other social media are often full of half-truths or completely inaccurate information. In contrast, AM reporters are often first on the scene and will deliver fact-checked details so the community can stay informed in real time.
3. AM Radio offers a diversity of voice that can't be found elsewhere. There are over 140 languages spoken in my town of Houston, Texas, and many of the AM stations are specific to these groups, where people can communicate in their native language, find a sense of community in a city of seven million people, and get emergency information when they need it.

The bottom line is this: streaming is not a replacement for radio, AM or otherwise. When push comes to shove, Spotify isn't raising money for Kids Meals when their freezers shut off during an ice storm. Local radio is. Pandora won't be coming in with trucks full of diapers and water after a hurricane demolishes your town. Local radio will. When a hurricane or fire is threatening your town, podcasts won't be providing detailed instructions on what roads are passable to get your family to safety. Local radio will. FEMA's mandate is that the President can communicate with the public at large within 90 seconds. Who provides that? the EAS system on RADIO.

Access to free, public media is important to any democracy. We must protect it on every platform.