Is AM Radio Dead?

 A bi-partisan group of lawmakers in Congress want to keep AM radio in cars.  This is in response to the reports of most carmakers doing away with AM radio in cars.  Okay, let me begin by saying that I grew up on AM radio beginning with KMOX, which was a top 40 radio station in St. Louis.  I can recall listening to the Cassius Clay fight against Sonny Liston on AM radio.  And it was WLW in Cincinatti that broadcast every Reds game.  Then there were the two big radio stations in Chicago, WLS and WCFL.  

I can recall many of the radio stations all over the country including WCBS out of NYC I could get at might. But there was a reason for AM to exist because the government's Emergency Broadcast System is broadcast on AM.  The reason why those in Congress want to keep AM is because of the EBS.  But too, it's about economics.  Morning drive time for many radio stations is broadcast on AM.  The argument against keeping AM in cars in mostly because auto manufacturers say no one listens to AM any longer.  

Once in a great while I'll go through the AM dial just to see what is there.  But while I used to listen to FM radio, I haven't tuned into either AM or FM to regularly listen for ages.  Yes, we have our play lists on Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora.  Then in most cars now is XM Serius radio.  But while these need subscriptions, most phones connect by Bluetooth even making built-in GPS unnecessary.  Our phones are so integrated into our car systems making any apps on our cars obsolete.  

But the fact is that some of us who are older stull want AM in our cars because most of us grew up with AM.  I'm old school about many things and still want AM in my cars as a choice.  Taking out AM kills the earning potential for many AM stations that still exist.  Truckers like to listen to call-in show covering the AM dial all over the country.  Maybe some think AM radio is dead now, but in my thinking I like having AM radio as a choice.  Especially at night when some radio stations are broadcasting cross-country at night.  

I just don't want to see AM radio die off.  And removing the choice in cars will do just that.  I still see value in AM even if I don't listen much to it.  It's like an old friend I don't communicate much with but know they're there.  Sometimes I just want to tune in just to see what's going on.  Sure FM broadcasts in stereo, but the range of FM isn't like that of AM particularly at night. I'd just like to see AM radio in cars.  AM might not be what it once was, but it's that old friend I'd like to have around just in case.  

I'm just an old school old man.  One of my favorite cars was a bronze Bently convertible with saddle leather seats.  It looked like the kind of car an old school Hollywood movie producer would drive.  My pipes are old school and I have an old school Zippo pipe lighter.  Nothing about pipe smoking is new, unless one likes a modern shape or design.  My Peterson Sherlock Holmes pipe is my pipe today, but even the shape of this pipe is old school, although the pipe itself is new.  I don't think Villager Tropical Export has been around too long, but whenever I smoke a pipe I do something that has been done for centuries.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave