Article by Adeline Fields
In a recent interview on Talk 107.3 FM, Brian Haldane talked with Curtis LeGeyt from the National Association of Broadcasters about the bipartisan push to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The legislation would require all new vehicles to include AM radio—a move LeGeyt describes as a “no-brainer issue, especially in times of emergency when other forms of communication fail.”
LeGeyt emphasized AM radio’s critical role in protecting public safety, citing that over 82 million Americans currently rely on AM stations every month. Built to remain on the air under even the most extreme conditions, AM stations are the first to receive and broadcast information when cell networks and internet connections fail during emergencies like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. “Whether you actually get an alert through your FM station or even through a television broadcast, that chain of communication starts with AM stations,” LeGeyt explained. “So these stations need to remain viable, and this legislation will ensure that they do.”
This issue is especially relevant for residents in areas like Louisiana that are prone to natural disasters. During the interview, Haldane pointed out the flashing blue emergency road signs commonly found on Louisiana interstates that instruct drivers to tune in to their local AM radio frequency for instructions in the event of an emergency. These AM stations can inform people of evacuation routes, shelter locations, and other important safety information when hurricanes or floods hit.
LeGeyt echoed this by referencing the impact of AM radio in recent flooding in the Southeast. “Last year, there were entire communities that were effectively on an island, no wireless communications whatsoever for weeks. And it was those AM radio stations that were telling loved ones where they could find each other, telling their listeners how they could evacuate those areas that you know, really, there was no food, no shelter. And so we’re really proud of what our stations across the country are doing.”
Despite the undeniable lifesaving potential of AM radio, some auto manufacturers have been phasing out AM radio in newer vehicles. LeGeyt argues that the cost to include them—just $10 to $25 per vehicle—is so minimal that it poses no major financial risk to these manufacturers, and that the removal of these radios is more about profit: “These auto manufacturers increasingly have every incentive to monetize every bit of what the consumer is doing in the car. Radio sits outside of that.”
The bill is gaining a lot of support, with 61 co-sponsors in the Senate and a growing majority in the House. LeGeyt remains hopeful for the bill’s success: “We’re going to keep this fight going… We’ve just got to get it over the finish line.”
Listen to “Curtis LeGeyt on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” on Spreaker.