"AM for Every Vehicle Act" is flawed - we need a "Future of Radio Act"

[Michi]

The current markup of the legislation would incentivize AM stations to turn back on their hybrid HD systems at night resurrecting the problems we had over a decade ago. We also need to preserve FM on the dash and while we are at it, extend FM opportunities to underserved rural areas that are blocked by larger cities.

Rant from Riverton: "AM for Every Vehicle Act" is flawed - we need a "Future of Radio Act" | REC Networks

recnet.com

 

[davideduardo]

The current markup of the legislation would incentivize AM stations to turn back on their hybrid HD systems at night resurrecting the problems we had over a decade ago. We also need to preserve FM on the dash and while we are at it, extend FM opportunities to underserved rural areas that are blocked by larger cities.

Rant from Riverton: "AM for Every Vehicle Act" is flawed - we need a "Future of Radio Act" | REC Networks

recnet.com

One of the downsides (and there were many) of Docket 80-90 was that it moved many superior rural area stations towards or into larger metros, leaving mostly inferior facilities to serve those areas.

 

[cc333]

Flawed though it may be, at least it's a start, in that it has given AM the most attention it's had in decades (as far as I can tell).

The first step is to gain the public's attention and build support, and that much I think they've somehow managed to accomplish here.

Where they take it from there is up to their ability to actually do any meaningful legislation (good luck!)....

c

 

[ZebraRadio]

The AM for Every Vehicle Act fails to pass the Senate. Rand Paul voted against it. His reasoning: “Mandating that all cars have AM radio is antithetical to any notion of limited government.” If that's true, then the Feds had no business mandating seat belts and other safety equipment in cars (and safety seems to be the #1 argument for keeping AM in cars).

Personally, I don't think the bill goes far enough. It needs to include FM. Many have speculated that removing AM is only the start. FM will be eventually phased out as well. I think we all know what automakers want to do with free entertainment. If they can't monetize it, eliminate it.

Attempt to Pass AM for Every Vehicle Act in Senate Falls Short - Radio World

A maneuver by Senate sponsors of the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" to pass the bill by avoiding a vote of the full Senate this week has fallen short.

www.radioworld.com

 

[TheBigA]

The current markup of the legislation would incentivize AM stations to turn back on their hybrid HD systems at night

You've said this before and it's not true. There are no such incentives.

Secondly the FCC never viewed any issues with HD-AM as "problems."

 

[boiseengineer]

AM & FM in a car is not a life & safety issue.
Seatbelts are.
No correlation between them.

 

[kfbkfb]

In a large area natural (or man made) disaster a distant AM signal may be the only link with the outside world (in the early days).

As people aren't buying/using dedicated radios much now, vehicle radios can provide info for everyone within range of the radio audio.

I've read that the FCC will allow an AM station that's high power omni day, lower power/directional at night to stay high power omni all night to help provide emergency info.


Kirk Bayne

 

[Mikey Radio]

AM & FM in a car is not a life & safety issue.
Seatbelts are.
No correlation between them.

Agreed. And as was mentioned in another Radiodiscussions thread back when the mandate to have AM radios in the dash of every vehicle was first proposed, most of the proponents of this measure were older and not terribly in touch with modern-day technologies, or in the case of some right-wing politicians, they were prompted by the fact that so many right-wing talk stations broadcast on AM radio and thus, they wanted that band to be available in new vehicles.

As you correctly state, having AM band especially in a car radio is not about life safety. First, you have to be tuned to a particular station to get alerts and receive messages and fewer and fewer people listen to the AM band. Second, as has been discussed ad nauseum on this site, in many medium and smaller markets especially, when natural disasters or large-scale events have occured where terrestrial radio could've been a useful information tool, in most cases all one heard is satellite or automated programming, and those stations that did have live jocks or announcers didn't have adequate personnel or resources to "go live" in any type of a hurry when incidents happen.

 

[davideduardo]

As you correctly state, having AM band especially in a car radio is not about life safety. First, you have to be tuned to a particular station to get alerts and receive messages and fewer and fewer people listen to the AM band. Second, as has been discussed ad nauseum on this site, in many medium and smaller markets especially, when natural disasters or large-scale events have occured where terrestrial radio could've been a useful information tool, in most cases all one heard is satellite or automated programming, and those stations that did have live jocks or announcers didn't have adequate personnel or resources to "go live" in any type of a hurry when incidents happen.

What is forgotten in these discussions is the use of EAS notifications that don't require stations to even be staffed to be useful.

 

[boiseengineer]

§ 73.3542 Application for emergency authorization.​

(a) Authority may be granted, on a temporary basis, in extraordinary circumstances requiring emergency operation to serve the public interest. such situations include: emergencies involving danger to life and property; a national emergency proclaimed by the President or the Congress of the U.S.A and; the continuance of any war in which the United States is engaged, and where such action is necessary for the national defense or security or otherwise in furtherance of the war effort.
(1) An informal application may be used. The FCC may grant such construction permits, station licenses, modifications or renewals thereof, without the filing of a formal application.
(2) No authorization so granted shall continue to be effective beyond the period of the emergency or war requiring it.
(3) Each individual request submitted under the provisions of this paragraph shall contain, as a minimum requirement, the following information:
(i) Name and address of applicant.
(ii) Location of proposed installation or operation.
(iii) Official call letters of any valid station authorization already held by applicant and the station location.
(iv) Type of service desired (not required for renewal or modification unless class of station is to be modified).
(v) Frequency assignment, authorized transmitter power(s), authorized class(es) of emission desired (not required for renewal; required for modification only to the extent such information may be involved).
(vi) Equipment to be used, specifying the manufacturer and type or model number (not required for renewal; required for modification only to the extent such information may be involved).
(vii) Statements to the extent necessary for the FCC to determine whether or not the granting of the desired authorization will be in accordance with the citizenship eligibility requirements of section 310 of the Cummunications (sic) Act.
(viii) Statement of facts which, in the opinion of the applicant, constitute an emergency to be found by the FCC for the purpose of this section. This statement must also include the estimated duration of the emergency and if during an emergency or war declared by the President or Congress, why such action, without formal application, is necessary for the national defense or security or in furtherance of the war effort.

(b) Emergency operating authority issued under this section may be cancelled or modified by the FCC without prior notice or right to hearing. See also § 73.1250, Broadcasting Emergency Information, for situations in which emergency operation may be conducted without prior authorization, and § 73.1635, Special Temporary Authorization (STA), for temporary operating authorizations necessitated by circumstances not within the ambit of this section.

[50 FR 30948, July 31, 1985, as amended at 63 FR 33878, June 22, 1998]

 

[boiseengineer]

§ 73.1250 Broadcasting emergency information.​

(a) Emergency situations in which the broadcasting of information is considered as furthering the safety of life and property include, but are not limited to the following: Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, tidal waves, earthquakes, icing conditions, heavy snows, widespread fires, discharge of toxic gasses, widspread power failures, industrial explosions, civil disorders and school closing and changes in school bus schedules resulting from such conditions. See also § 73.3542, Application for Emergency Authorization, for requirements involving emergency situations not covered by this section for which prior operating authority must be requested.

(b) If requested by responsible public officials, a station may, at its discretion, and without further FCC authority, transmit emergency point-to-point messages for the purpose of requesting or dispatching aid and assisting in rescue operations.

(c) If the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is activated for a national emergency while a Local Area or State emergency operation is in progress, the national level EAS operation must take precedence. If, during the broadcasting of Local Area or State emergency information, the EAS codes or Attention Signal described in § 11.12 of this chapter are used, the broadcasts are considered as being carried out under a Local Area or State EAS plan.

(d) Any emergency operation undertaken in accordance with this section may be terminated by the FCC if required in the public interest.

(e) Immediately upon cessation of an emergency during which broadcast facilities were used for the transmission of point-to-point messages under paragraph (b) of this section, or when daytime facilities were used during nighttime hours by an AM station in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section, a report in letter form shall be forwarded to the FCC in Washington, DC, setting forth the nature of the emergency, the dates and hours of the broadcasting of emergency information, and a brief description of the material carried during the emergency. A certification of compliance with the noncommercialization provision of paragraph (f) of this section must accompany the report where daytime facilities are used during nighttime hours by an AM station, together with a detailed showing, under the provisisons of that paragraph, that no other broadcast service existed or was adequate.

(f) AM stations may, without further FCC authority, use their full daytime facilities during nighttime hours to broadcast emergency information (examples listed in paragraph (a) of this section), when necessary to the safety of life and property, in dangerous conditions of a general nature and when adequate advance warning cannot be given with the facilities authorized. Because of skywave interference impact on other stations assigned to the same channel, such operation may be undertaken only if regular, unlimited-time service, is non-existent, inadequate from the standpoint of coverage, or not serving the public need. All operation under this paragraph must be conducted on a noncommercial basis. Recorded music may be used to the extent necessary to provide program continuity.

(g) Broadcasting of emergency information shall be confined to the hours, frequencies, powers and modes of operation specified in the station license, except as otherwise provided for AM stations in paragraph (f) of this section.

(h) Any emergency information transmitted by a TV or Class A TV station in accordance with this section shall be transmitted both aurally and visually or only visually. TV and Class A TV stations may use any method of visual presentation which results in a legible message conveying the essential emergency information. Methods which may be used include, but are not necessarily limited to, slides, electronic captioning, manual methods (e.g., hand printing) or mechanical printing processes. However, when an emergency operation is being conducted under a national, State or Local Area Emergency Alert System (EAS) plan, emergency information shall be transmitted both aurally and visually unless only the EAS codes are transmitted as specified in § 11.51(b) of this chapter.

[43 FR 45847, Oct. 4, 1978, as amended at 50 FR 30947, July 31, 1985; 59 FR 67102, Dec. 28, 1994; 60 FR 56000, Nov. 6, 1995; 65 FR 30003, May 10, 2000]

 

[ZebraRadio]

Before any more heads explode, I should point out that there is an equivalency between AM radio and seatbelts. Both can potentially save lives. To quote Radio Ink, "…real life disasters from hurricanes to the recent Maui wildfires have proved cell and data signals fail, phone batteries die, and residents turn to radio in an actual emergency. Where do they typically get that radio? From their vehicle." Similar language is baked into the 'Radio Vehicle' Act.

Rand Paul's objection that: "“Mandating that all cars have AM radio is antithetical to any notion of limited government” is ridiculous. Feds do it all the time, especially where lives are involved (e.g. seatbelts). But even where no lives are involved the Feds still mandate stuff. Who remembers the All-Channel Receiver Act of 1961? Not particularly life preserving, but as far as I know, no consumer groups objected to it or whined about government intrusion. There are situations where the government does and should mandate a certain course of action and that such a mandate can be beneficial.

Report Claims AM Radio Will Cost EV Makers $3.8B By 2030 - Radio Ink

The automotive industry is bringing its guns to bear on radio via campaigns and lobbying as the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act nears a win.

radioink.com

 

[TheBigA]

Rand Paul's objection that: "“Mandating that all cars have AM radio is antithetical to any notion of limited government” is ridiculous. Feds do it all the time, especially where lives are involved (e.g. seatbelts). But even where no lives are involved the Feds still mandate stuff.

Rand Paul uses the "limited government" thing when it's convenient. Seat belts are the tip of the iceberg.

For many years there have been lots of rules and mandates regarding car emissions. This is being discussed now:

White House threatens to veto anti-EV bill just passed by US House

The bill would prevent the EPA from enforcing tougher new pollution standards.

arstechnica.com

 

[Mikey Radio]

Before any more heads explode, I should point out that there is an equivalency between AM radio and seatbelts.

But it must be noted that, per my previous comment, this law and those who were trying to pass it were driven more by politics than anything. As mentioned, many on the right who were pushing the hardest for AM radio to be included in all new cars per government mandate, were doing so not because of a supposed safety concern...They were doing it because Rush Limbaugh was once on AM radio, many right-wing talkers are heard on AM radio, and many of them have been interviewed by and got support from stations that are heard on the AM band. Here is a direct quote from Ted Cruise (R), taken from the RW article in the link you posted above:

Cruz took to the Senate floor on Tuesday and asked senators to join him in support of free speech, and in support of AM Radio. “It is widely enjoyed by Americans across the country. Over 80 million Americans listen to AM radio every month. They rely on it,” he said.
The Republican from Texas continued: “I believe these automakers stood up to remove AM radio as part of a broader pattern we see of censoring views that are disfavored by Big Business. I think this is consistent with what Big Tech has done, silencing views they disagree with. And so this bill is all about preserving consumer choice and letting consumers decide. If you don’t want to listen to AM radio, turn it off.”

 

[kfbkfb]

Smartphones could automatically do something radical - if there's no cell signal for some time, instructions appear on the smartphone screen advising using an AM radio in a vehicle (perhaps another page could instruct how to tune in AM stations and that AM sound quality may be poor but can usually be used for emergency purposes).


Kirk Bayne

 

[KeithE4]

Smartphones could automatically do something radical - if there's no cell signal for some time, instructions appear on the smartphone screen advising using an AM radio in a vehicle (perhaps another page could instruct how to tune in AM stations and that AM sound quality may be poor but can usually be used for emergency purposes).


Kirk Bayne

Why? If something like that popped up on my phone screen... Well, it wouldn't because I'd have that functionality disabled as a total waste of time.

 

[Cold Coffee]

One of the downsides (and there were many) of Docket 80-90 was that it moved many superior rural area stations towards or into larger metros, leaving mostly inferior facilities to serve those areas.

Many of the Class B FM's had left small and medium sized town for larger cities prior to 80-90. It was after 80-90 that I was able to get those abandoned communities some FM service.

 

[TheBigA]

Many of the Class B FM's had left small and medium sized town for larger cities prior to 80-90. It was after 80-90 that I was able to get those abandoned communities some FM service.

Haha, and not long after that, many of them became move-ins for the same reason.

The idea of having small towns that can't support local retail as COLs for radio is crazy. If all you have are big box retail, then you get big box radio.

 

[radiofan2023]

Smartphones could automatically do something radical - if there's no cell signal for some time, instructions appear on the smartphone screen advising using an AM radio in a vehicle (perhaps another page could instruct how to tune in AM stations and that AM sound quality may be poor but can usually be used for emergency purposes).

No

 

[davideduardo]

Many of the Class B FM's had left small and medium sized town for larger cities prior to 80-90. It was after 80-90 that I was able to get those abandoned communities some FM service.

Remember, before 80-90 upgrades like going from A to a B or C or certain moves constituted a "major change" and opened up the station to cross filing. In fact, Docket 80-90 was the result of a Class A in Bonita Springs, FL, filing to upgrade into a C and getting something like 8 cross filing... eventually losing the license to another party.