Some time back in the Korner, Vern Modeland, BHS-50, and Mark Campbell, BHS-67, had shown their disdain for the story that continues to erupt about the demise of AM radio. Both, of course, have experience in that type of communication and simply "aren't likin' that continuing talk" about their old gigs.
They, of course, are not alone. Many long-time listeners and "old-timers" are deeply upset by the rapid closure of AM radio stations because these frequencies serve as an irreplaceable lifeline for emergency information, local news and community connection.
Unfortunately, there are legitimate concerns for these closures and, of course, money, money, money is one of the main evils. Hundreds of AM stations are suffering from severe economic pressures and declining ad revenues as well as the impact created by interference issues from all of these modern devices, even such as electric vehicles.
Being ignored are several positives that AM frequencies supply, information that was needed and supplied. Perhaps most important is the fact that local AM stations are the soul of many communities, particularly farm towns and isolated frontier areas.
This community bulletin board provides local crop pricing, high school sports coverage, local obituaries and weather reports all tailored to the exact area.
Unlike FM signals or cellular data, AM radio waves travel incredible distances by bouncing off the atmosphere, especially at night. This allows a single transmitter to cover an entire region, reaching people who are completely cut off from other networks.
In severe storms, floods, or grid failures, cell towers and internet routers routinely fail. AM transmitters are heavily armored with backup power, making them the primary source for emergency broadcasts and severe weather updates.
AM has, also, historically, been a low cost haven for foreign language programming, religious broadcasts and talk formats that streaming platforms largely ignore.
Automakers are increasingly removing AM radios from new electric vehicles due to electromagnetic motor interference. For older drivers, the dashboard AM dial is a decades-long habit that is deeply ingrained in their daily commute or long distance travel routine.
So, what's the end game here? As my dear mother used to say, "wait and see."
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are still located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments/death notices......https:/kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com
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