Congress Should Mandate AM Radio in All New Vehicles for Public Safety
Source: https://www.facebook.com/americanspectator/. "When the Lights Go Out, AM Radio Still Speaks | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics." September 19, 2026. spectator.org
The Gist
The author argues that Congress should require all new cars to have AM radio because it's a crucial backup communication system during emergencies when cell phones and internet fail. Since AM radio is free, reaches far distances, and has proven reliable during disasters like 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, mandating its inclusion in vehicles is a matter of public safety that deserves bipartisan support.
Conclusion
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act should be passed into law, requiring automakers to include AM radio in all new vehicles at no extra cost.
Premises
- AM radio is a critical public safety tool that serves as the last reliable communication link when cell towers fail, power grids go dark, or the internet goes offline during disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes
- AM signals travel farther than FM and can reach remote areas, working even when other networks are down
- Some automakers, especially electric vehicle makers, have been phasing out AM radio citing changing consumer habits and technical interference
- AM radio is free and does not require a subscription or functioning data network, unlike many modern alternatives
- The bill has garnered rare bipartisan support in Congress, with over 300 cosponsors in the House and filibuster-proof support in the Senate
- Public safety and emergency communication transcend partisan politics and should not be left to market forces alone
- Historical examples like Superstorm Sandy and 9/11 demonstrate AM radio's life-saving communication role during crises
Assumptions
- Government mandate is an appropriate and necessary tool to ensure public safety infrastructure is preserved
- Automaker cost-benefit decisions about which technologies to include should be overridden by public safety concerns
- AM radio's past reliability during disasters will continue into the future despite technological changes
- The bipartisan support for a bill indicates its merit or correctness
- No adequate alternative technology exists or will emerge that could replace AM radio's unique public safety function
- The cost of mandating AM radio inclusion is negligible or justified by the public safety benefit