AM Radio-NAFB Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. In response to automakers announcing the elimination of AM radio in select vehicles, the National Association of Farm Broadcasting is taking steps they hope will keep AM radio in your dashboard.NAFB spoke with the FCC and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and sent letters to leadership on the House and Senate Ag Committees.
NAFB President Joe Gill says the focus right now is on educating others about the issue …
GILL … “There's a lot of folks right now who are unaware of this issue. So, educating our cohorts in the industry and also legislative leaders, because there is no legislation on the books regarding this issue. There is nothing to mandate this to be an item in vehicles.”
Ford Motor Company will not include AM radios in most of its new 2024 vehicles but will keep AM radio in commercial vehicles. Meanwhile, companies like Tesla have already removed AM radio from their electric vehicles.
Gill says the response so far has been overwhelmingly supportive, especially in rural parts of the country …
GILL ... “You can’t just plug in your phone or have an app because, let's face it, rural broadband is still not accessible in some areas. And once again, it comes down to safety as well when it comes to severe weather. And a lot of legislators did support us verbally and they want to know what they can do to try and keep AM radio in the dashboard.”
Tune in tomorrow when Gill addresses NAFB research that shows the importance of AM radio to rural America.