It's been CONFIRMED: Ford Motor Company has changed their tune and is keeping AM Radios in new vehicles manufactured and sold across the United States. WGNS was able to confirm the announcement on Tuesday (05/23/2023) around 10:15AM (Central Time).
After the announcement was made, the National Association of Broadcasters, which WGNS in Murfreesboro is a member of, commended FORD for making this commitment, which will keep Americans safe and informed, particularly in times of emergency. With tens of millions of listeners, AM radio continues to serve as a vital lifeline to the public and a critical source of community news and exchange of diverse ideas.
With more, we head to CBS News in Detroit... Scroll down to see a previous news story on this issue prior to Ford giving Congress the green light on Tuesday.
PREVIOUS NEWS STORY ON AM RADIO: Millions of Americans are concerned about the lifespan of AM Radio… Former FEMA officials are warning the Biden administration about the dangers of dropping AM radio from Electric Vehicles (E-V’s), Monica Rix with CBS News reported… Auto Reporter Jeff Gilbert said…
Locally, Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr stated…Rutherford County has seen its share of natural disasters over the years with tornadoes, the most recent occurring in the midnight hours of March 31st and into the early morning hours of April 1st of this year. Mayor Carr suggested that AM Radio is a public service tool that can save lives as bad weather approaches. This is especially true when the internet is not working, cellphone and land lines are down or the electricity is out…
In 2022, U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey from Massachusetts, wrote a letter to 20 automakers making one simple request… to leave AM radios in new vehicles. The Senators argument was that the AM frequency allows public safety officials at the local, state and federal level quickly communicate with a vast number of people. Markey said, “Despite innovations such as the smartphone and social media, AM/FM broadcast radio remains the most dependable, cost-free, and accessible communication mechanism for public officials to communicate with the public during times of emergency. As a result, any phase-out of broadcast AM radio could pose a significant communication problem during emergencies.”
Let your voice be heard to keep AM Radio ALIVE, as an important tool in communications, especially when cellphone lines are not working, the internet is down or when the power is out. The National Association of Broadcasters and this station, WGNS, invite you to text your thoughts to the number, “52886” today.
MORE: Forrest Sanders with News Channel 5 did a great story on this issue on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. See that news video below.
