AM radio law opposed by tech and auto industries is close to passing

AM radio law opposed by tech and auto industries is close to passing(arstechnica.com)

7 points by WirelessGigabit 2 years ago | 3 comments

McLarenF1 2 years ago |

Free AM would be very useful in the scenario of a total power out or an emergency situation, has anyone even watched A Quiet Place?

WirelessGigabit 2 years ago |

... which Ford told us was because radio stations were modernizing "by offering Internet streaming through mobile apps, FM, digital and satellite radio options," ...

AM is free. FM doesn't have the range. Mobile Apps require subscription AND cell service. With 3G and 4G going away range is actually getting worse. Satellite (SiriusXM) also requires a subscription.

So what do we do? Free SiriusXM? That still requires someone to connect to a broadcasting station that sends it up to the satellite, and then the satellite broadcasts it, after which I can hear it on the radio.

AM just makes more sense.

BMc2020 2 years ago | |

I remember reading during hurricane Katrina (2005) the only local radio station was run by a near poverty level ham radio boffin who had his own equipment to broadcast messages. All the professional stations were remote with no employees.

Brice Phillips' low power FM radio station, WQRZ LP, was one of only 4 stations in the region that remained on the air after Hurricane Katrina devastated Hancock county, Mississippi. He and a small group of volunteers remained on air 24 hours a day, broadcasting alerts and pointing survivors in the direction of vital aid.

"He's probably saved as many people after the storm than he did before the storm because of being able to tell them where to go get food, water, and ice," explains Brian "Hooty" Adams, director of Hancock County's emergency operations center.