NEW YORK — A Councilman for the City of the New York has signaled that he intends to introduce legislation requiring AM radio receivers in all city-owned and city-contracted vehicles — a signal that kHz-band broadcast stations remain essential in North America’s biggest municipality.
Frank Morano has pledged to introduce the bill next Tuesday (11/25) at a New York City Council meeting. His proposal directs the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to ensure AM reception hardware — not streaming alternatives — is installed in all new City of New York fleet vehicles. This includes emergency response units, sanitation trucks and agency cars, as well as vehicles used under City of New York contracts. The legislation also mandates annual reporting to track compliance and enforcement.
Morano, the former host of The Other Side of Midnight at Red Apple Media’s WABC-AM in New York, said the requirement supports the reliability of the Emergency Alert System, which federal agencies continue to use for real-time warnings. He noted that while federal legislation remains pending, local action can influence automaker decisions…