John Catsimatidis, the owner of WABC radio, expressed his worry in a New York Post op-ed about some automobile manufacturers, including Ford, removing AM radio from their cars. He believes that this action is un-American and, more significantly, endangers Americans’ safety in emergency situations.
During disasters, Catsimatidis stresses that AM radio is the most dependable means of communication. AM alerts are used by every major city, and a Pew Research Center survey discovered that almost 50% of US adults rely on the radio for news. Furthermore, about 47 million Americans continue to listen to AM radio frequency, which accounts for approximately 20% of the radio-listening populace.
“I have been leading the charge to save AM radio. Just last week at the National Association of Broadcasters conference in Las Vegas, I met with members of the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Catsimatidis wrote.
Although AM listeners are generally older, they have increased their daily listening time to just over two hours in the past five years. AM signals have a wider reach, especially during nighttime, making them a crucial source of news in rural areas. Additionally, AM stations offer programming tailored to specific cultural and religious communities, promoting diverse perspectives, and contributing to the exchange of ideas.
“I’ve also been speaking with some of our leading politicians in Washington, and I am urging the public to do the same and speak to their representatives about preserving the AM option in all new vehicles,” he added.
Catsimatidis believes that if automakers can produce self-driving cars, then they can certainly manufacture radios that can pick up signals. He is currently spearheading the effort to preserve AM radio and has consulted with the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding this matter. He encourages individuals to contact their representatives concerning this issue, and even former Vice President Mike Pence has made a public-service announcement advocating for the preservation of AM radio on 77 WABC.
Catsimatidis points out the important role that AM radio has played throughout history. It provided entertainment in the 1920s and helped bring the nation together during the Great Depression through Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats. We also have AM radio to thank for introducing us to musical legends like Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and the Beatles, as well as the soothing sounds of Sunday summer baseball on the radio.
The elimination of AM radio from cars would be a huge disservice to Americans, putting profits before people and jeopardizing public safety. As Catsimatidis states, “Americans deserve better. Americans deserve AM radio.”