Photo above: AM radio in a Ford vehicle tuned to AM 1450 (WGNS)
CONFIRMED: Ford Motor Company has changed its tune and is keeping AM radios on new vehicles made and sold in the United States. WGNS was able to confirm the announcement on Tuesday (05/23/2023) around 10:15 a.m. (Central Time).
After the announcement was made, the National Association of Broadcasters, of which Murfreesboro’s WGNS is a member, praised FORD for making this commitment, which will keep Americans safe and informed, especially 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 the exchange of diverse ideas.
With more, we head to CBS News in Detroit … Scroll down for a previous story on this topic before Ford gives the green light to Congress on Tuesday.
PREVIOUS NEWS ON AM RADIO: Millions of Americans are concerned about the lifespan of AM radio … Former FEMA officials warn Biden administration about dangers of dropping AM radio from electric vehicles (EVs), Monica reported Rix with CBS News… 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 at midnight on the 31 of March and in the early hours of the morning of April 1 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 down, cell phones and landlines are down, or the power is out…
In 2022, United States Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, wrote a letter to 20 automakers making a 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 levels to communicate quickly with large numbers of people. Markey said, “Despite innovations such as the smartphone and social media, AM/FM radio remains the most reliable, free and accessible communication mechanism for public officials to communicate with the public in times of need. 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 VIA radio an important tool in communications, especially when cell phone lines are down, the Internet is down, or when the power goes out. The National Association of Broadcasters and this station, WGNS, invite you to send your thoughts to “52886” today.
MONTH: Forrest Sanders with News Channel 5 did a great story on this topic on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Watch that news video below.
