HFU HF Underground
General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: ChrisSmolinski on May 17, 2023, 1610 UTC
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A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to make it illegal for carmakers to eliminate AM radio from their cars, arguing public safety is at risk, Axios is first to report.
The proposed legislation, to be introduced today by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and others, would require all new vehicles to include AM radio at no additional charge.
Full story: https://www.axios.com/2023/05/17/am-radio-congress-cars
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Text of the Bill:
https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/gottheimer.house.gov/uploads/2023/05/5.17-House-AM-Radio-for-Every-Vehicle-Act.pdf (https://d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/gottheimer.house.gov/uploads/2023/05/5.17-House-AM-Radio-for-Every-Vehicle-Act.pdf)
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"The National Association of Broadcasters has launched a campaign to preserve AM radio, and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, is pushing the cause in Congress. Their argument centers on public safety, as AM radio is the most efficient means to get critical information to the public.
The commercial stations that make up the National Association of Broadcasters have a vested interest in maintaining radio as a viable industry."
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2023-05-15/opinion-remove-am-radio-media-new-cars-technology-vintage
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Nevermind FEMA has dumped untold millions into hardening transmission facilities in the fleet of EAS PEP AM stations....
I'm sure the government wouldn't want to see that money wasted..oh wait.
https://rbr.com/homeland-security-installing-transmitters-nationwide/ (https://rbr.com/homeland-security-installing-transmitters-nationwide/)
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It’s worth noting that the proposed bill specifically calls for digital audio AM receivers.
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There is an exemption that does not include all-digital AM, but implies hybrid mode must be supported. This sounds to me like HD AM demodulation is not required. Thus, as long as conventional AM is supported, the vehicle meets the requirements of the act.
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I assume you are talking about the wording in Sec 2: 7 (a) and (b). I don’t read it that way.
To me, the way the whole bill is written implies they really want digital AM. If the car radio only had conventional AM, it would not be compliant. It would have to be a hybrid receiver. Sec 2: 14 (b) 3 clearly shows they want digital.
I could see this as a bone thrown to the automobile manufacturers as it might ease their worries about vehicle generated RFI. The RFI would still be there, but the end consumer would not hear it. All he would notice is poor range on AM.
The exclusion against an all digital AM station receiver is weird. Maybe that is a concession to all of the analog AM stations out there, that they are being included.
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If their intention was to mandate HD reception, they wouldn't have the exemption for all-digital reception. As most laws, it is vague and confusing for a reason.
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Vague or no, it's a good idea, if only for emergency redundancy (and the FEMA transmitters mentioned upthread).
Redundancy for emergency information delivery systems is a good thing.