The NAB has devised a quick-and-easy way for you to voice support for  the new "AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act" that would require manufacturers to keep AM radio in cars (at no additional cost to users) to ensure that Americans can hear emergency alerts -- just as carmakers are required to include safety belts. Time is of the essence, so visit 'Act Now' to add your name to list of those who support the legislation! Your voice matters. Please join the effort and share this info within your sphere of influence. See also this excellent summary published by Inside Radio.

On May 23, one major automaker reversed course and announced that AM Radio will remain in their vehicles but did not say for how long. Other carmakers have not turned this corner yet. That is why NAB president / CEO LeGeyt today reminded Congress that the legislation continues to be required, stating, “Broadcasters will continue to support this major legislation to ensure consumer access to AM Radio in all vehicles."

The NAB reports having received over 187,000 emails and more than 13,000 tweets to date from people voicing concern over carmakers' efforts to eliminate AM radio from vehicles. We were among them.

We hope vehicle manufacturers are listening; because some are proposing to eliminate AM radio receivers from future models of both electric vehicles (EVs) and gasoline-powered cars, despite our Federal Emergency Management Agency’s investment of billions of our dollars to make sure that AM radio will be the backbone of our national safety network in a national emergency. It’s unconscionable, but it’s true.

Why? Automotive manufacturers have been saying that the task of integrating AM receivers into EVs is impossible – even though there are thousands of EVs on America’s roads currently equipped with AM receivers. Moreover, these same manufacturers have been suggesting that emergency information is available from other sources (other than radio), ignoring that non-radio sources (cellular, internet) are the most vulnerable to attack and overload during emergencies and often aren’t accessible to drivers due to laws enacted to discourage distracted driving. But virtually every vehicle in America today is equipped with an AM broadcast receiver, making AM radio one of the most reliable sources of emergency information.

On behalf of the American Association of Information Radio Operators (AAIRO), we join the Federal Communications Commission and a coalition of state Emergency Management Agencies, politicians such as Mike Pence and various senators and representatives who have spoken against this threat.

The National Association of Broadcasters recently launched a grassroots effort, asking U.S. citizens to petition Congress to act with a national campaign that encourages citizens to text “AM” to Cell Number “52886” and sign a short petition intended to “Tell legislators why you depend on AM Radio” and to “Keep AM radio in cars.” For broadcasters it’s their livelihood. But for all of us, the difference during a national emergency might be our lives.

One only needs to review the history of storm and wildfire evacuations to see the value and importance of the rapid and reliable dissemination of emergency information. Emergency-Hardened Broadcast Stations and local 10-watt Emergency Radio Stations trump all other methodologies because they will stay on when fragile digital services are swamped or compromised.

It may take an act of Congress to stop the very car manufacturers we have supported with our tax dollars from seeking a break for themselves, as they seek to break radio -- America’s emergency safety net.

AAIRO Advisory Board