A recent test of the emergency alert system found only 1 percent got it via AM.
A controversial bill that would require all new cars to be fitted with AM radios looks set to become a law in the near future. Yesterday, Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass) revealed that the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now has the support of 60 US Senators, as well as 246 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, making its passage an almost sure thing. Should that happen, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would be required to ensure that all new cars sold in the US had AM radios at no extra cost.
Glad they have their fucking priorities straight. Cars are growing at an insane rate and becoming more dangerous to operate but at least they will have garbage AM radio.
AM radios are incredibly cheap and simple, and they're the primary means of communicating traffic and weather information.
Should note that they also don't cost anything to receive information, unlike digital data services. So as long as your car has power, it'll have a radio receiver. This, unlike mobile internet, which can cost in the neighborhood of $50-150/mo for the same access. And which don't work in rural areas with poor wifi coverage.
It’s also one of the most reliable ways to transmit data wirelessly. Huge range, pretty landscape durable. Only problem is the sound quality isn’t good enough for much music. It’s a safety feature for certain