A controversial bill that would require all new cars to be fitted with AM radios looks set to become a law in the near future. Yesterday, Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass) revealed that the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act” now has the support of 60 US Senators, as well as 246 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, making its passage an almost sure thing. Should that happen, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would be required to ensure that all new cars sold in the US had AM radios at no extra cost.
Do cars really need to have it though? They seem to be the only thing “targeted” to be forced into include something that can receive emergency broadcasts. Why not force homes to be outfitted with an AM radio? Everyone lives somewhere (mostly, unfortunately) but not everyone owns a car. If they really want people to have access to AM radio emergency broadcasts maybe they should supply people with portable AM radios rather than forcing car companies to include it in their cars and increasing the price of vehicles since they will require larger antennae and more wiring than just FM radio or no radio at all.
In the US, a large portion of the population lives rurally, maybe a few miles to a neighbor, maybe blocks. When the power grid/telecommunications go down, a car has just about everything you need for the ability to check in. I understand your thoughts, and agree, supplying everyone with an emergency hand cranked radio would be a fair solution. Most folks that live rurally have one already. As someone who rode out Katrina, cars and radios were extremely helpful, AM especially.