During the last two years, multiple car manufacturers started eliminating AM radios from their new models. That move could lead to challenges for farmers and rural communities that often depend on AM broadcasts for crucial news, information, and weather alerts.

AM radio serves as a vital lifeline in rural areas, particularly remote ones, providing essential information like farm market updates, and emergency broadcasts during severe weather or natural disasters. AM reach is extensive; a Nielsen study cited by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) reveals that 82 million Americans rely on AM radio, representing about a third of all radio listeners. In agricultural areas, this reliance is even more pronounced, with nearly half deeming AM radio “highly important.”

According to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), more than 1,500 AM stations serve agricultural communities. That’s one in three AM stations. Plus, nearly 80 percent of rural residents listen to the radio more than five days per week. That’s contrasted with 64 percent utilizing streaming and a mere 16 percent using satellite radio. The data also suggests that listeners consider farm broadcasting highly credible, accurate, and timely. In a letter from the board of the NAFB to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee emphasized, “removing AM radio from vehicles will put into serious jeopardy an important lifeline and source of information to rural America, not just during times of emergency events but every single day.”

For most of 2024, the NAB, NAFB, and other organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, Latino Farmers & Ranchers International, Livestock Marketing Association, National Grange, National Farmers Union, Rural & Agriculture Council of America, and U.S. Cattlemen’s Association have championed something called the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.” There is now overwhelming support by a majority of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who support the mission and purpose of AM radio. The act has been passed by the House and currently needs passage by the Senate to be enacted into law. Go to www.wearebroadcasters.com for additional information.

Despite AM radio’s continued popularity, multiple automakers made the surprising decision to eliminate AM radio as a standard feature. That move directly contradicts consumer preferences, as 90 percent of car buyers, according to the NAB, still value AM/FM radio as an essential standard feature.

For now, the list of automakers discontinuing AM radios includes luxury brands like BMW and Volvo, and electric vehicle makers like Tesla, citing technological interference. Ford initially planned to eliminate them from all non-commercial lines but reversed its decision after public backlash. Other popular brands, such as Honda, have been somewhat tight-lipped regarding their intentions.

While pundits suggest that discontinuing AM radios in vehicles won’t spell doom for the AM band, their absence in popular vehicles could place strain on local AM broadcasters already facing financial challenges, as they stand to lose portions of their audience. Similar to the transition of international shortwave radio to online formats, this change could lead to a broader exit of AM stations from the airwaves.

Those same pundits suggest streaming local stations via cell phones, but that poses several challenges. Rural areas often suffer from unreliable cell signals and limited internet access. Small local AM stations also often lack the budget for the equipment and ongoing costs of streaming. Additionally, some listeners in rural communities face financial or technical barriers, such as relying on basic flip phones or landlines that don’t support streaming or can’t afford satellite services.

In light of those issues, over-the-air AM radio offers numerous advantages. Unlike FM and TV signals, which require a clear line of sight, AM signals travel along the ground and can bend around obstacles, allowing them to cover much greater distances. When other services fail, AM radio remains a reliable option, even when technology infrastructure is damaged. Emergency officials in Hawaii experienced this firsthand when AM broadcast equipment became essential for communication after wildfires destroyed other communication options. Because of AM radio’s importance for emergency communication, Pete Gaynor, the former administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said, “Experts at FEMA have been clear: eliminating AM radio will put the public at risk.” 

Curtis LeGeyt, NAB president and CEO, emphasized AM radio’s importance specifically in vehicles. “Consumers principally access radio in the automobile,” he said. “So, without that connectivity, you’re leaving consumers in the dark, literally.” He noted that this is especially true during emergencies, when a car’s battery may be the only available power source.”

Emergency communication is at the backbone of every station’s license. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC), which issues station licenses, is very clear: the underlying justification for a radio station isn’t commercial. It’s serving the public interest. “The first duty of a radio station, as mandated by the FCC, is to operate in a way that benefits the public, providing essential services such as news, education, entertainment, and emergency information.” That “public” refers to the reach of a station, which is local communities. Small, typically lower-power AM stations are hubs for local information, ranging from crop reports to local politics.

In the face of under-represented cellular and broadband service, AM radio remains an important communication tool. It’s particularly vital for keeping rural residents apprised of weather conditions, farm news, and information impacting their livelihoods. As FCC commissioner Nathan Simington raised, “What’s the plan to serve rural farmers with the information they need, exactly, if not for AM radio?”