Need for AM Radio Persists
Previous head of the Federal Danger Management Office (FEMA), Craig Fugate, lately articulated his outlook on EV fabricators eliminating AM radios from their vehicles, making a fuss over the feasible risks to public safety that this might bring.
“Getting rid of that car radio means that if the other systems don’t work, it’s more difficult for the public to be notified, especially in the event of a national emergency,” said Fugate in an interview with NewsNation. “AM radio is the foundation of our national alert system. Out of all the technologies, it’s the most resistant to anything from cyberattacks to nuclear war.”
It is necessary to set the record straight: EV manufacturers are not scrapping AM radio to save costs. The surrounding electromagnetic fields generated around battery units and electric parts interfere with the signal, producing a very displeasing buzz. This issue has been around since BMW ushered in the i3 and i8 in 2014. Since then, car-brands like Audi, Porsche, Tesla and Volvo have followed their lead by removing AM capabilities.
AM, or Amplitude Modulation, uses signals that are reflected off the ionosphere, enabling it to cover a wide area from many thousands of miles away. Alternatively, FM, also known as Frequency Modulation, is transmitted at a higher frequency, thus passing through the ionosphere and into the void.
AM signals are considerably easier to come by, and the technology utilized for broadcasting is less difficult and thus, has fewer risks relating to the safety threats cited earlier by Fugate. This explains why FEMA depends upon AM as its major national warning system, being it is the only mode of communication that continues functioning when FM frequencies and mobile connections have been saturated.
Irrespective of the catastrophe, whether it’s torrential rain, twisters, fires, armed conflict, zombie outbreaks, or some other important dilemma, utilizing an AM tuner is the most dependable way to comprehend how to perceive, circumvent, or react to the catastrophes that arise. Grammar checked and OK!
“FEMA, in collaboration with local broadcasters, has taken steps to bolster the primary entry points for the national warning system, from which emergency alerts are disseminated,” said Fugate. “This system is designed to be able to withstand any attempts to sabotage or disrupt it, as well as the effects of natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. In many cases, AM radio has proven to be a reliable technology during these events.”
It’s hard to dispute the point of view that Fugate puts forth when one surveys the calamities experienced throughout last year. Hurricane Ian caused some exquisite supercars to suffer great damage, as well as almost eradicating 96% of cellular masts. To compensate for this, the authorities hastily installed mobile masts which enabled communication, however, it was impaired for many hours, the only resource obatainable being AM Radio.
Despite this, the FEMA launching is progressing towards a digital option. In 2022, FEMA proclaimed an investment sum of $40M for the Company for Public Broadcasting, to modernize the current public alert and warning systems with new ideas, plus upgrade rural radio broadcasts.
Visibly, it is transparent why AM Radio appears to be defunct; however, ruling it out could be imprudent as the whole world (inclusively the motor vehicle sector) remains in jeopardy due to cyberattacks. Hackers have even inaugurated assaulting EV charging posts, and motorcar companies had to augment their safeguard after benevolent hackers demonstrated how easy it was to compromise the existing-era Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Currently, there are 4,728 AM stations and 6,613 FM stations operating in the U.S. Additionally, SiriusXM provides more than 150 non-stop channels. With a laptop, mic and perspective–everyone today has their own podcast. Moreover, Spotify alone provides 5 million different podcasts, each featuring multiple scenarios. Alongside mainstream radio types such as Digital Audio Broadcasting, Satellite Radio, HD (Digital Radio) and Internet Radio, it isn’t cost-effective to invest in extras that not many purchasers will benefit from and don’t sound pleasant in an electric car?
The latest Nielsen Audio Today 2022 report suggests that despite the onslaught of new media technologies, 93% of American citizens are exposed to radio each month. This solidifies that traditional audio broadcasting hasn’t entirely been superseded just yet. Additionally, it’s quintessential to emphasize the necessity of a dependable emergency alert system. In the event of an apocalyptic-type state of affairs (such as in the video game The Last of Us) we would certainly not ignore any noticeable alerts.
