One Man’s Opinion: I’m Still an AM Radio Fan

By Bill Crane

The “death” of AM radio was first foretold with the advent of television. The number of AM and Low Power AM Radio stations only grew. And again, as FM’s better fidelity and stereo sound eclipsed its older sibling, the death of AM frequencies was forecast – and then the birth of Talk Radio, and AM audiences only exploded.

The oldest AM radio stations hit their century mark in 2022, still broadcasting in the public interest, the backbone of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), and still providing dozens of millions each year in free public service announcements public affairs programming in communities across the nation.

Radio waves themselves are incredibly amazing things. We can’t see, touch, or feel them, yet much of our world runs on electromagnetic radio waves. The smartphones we all live on are transmitted via high-frequency modulation (FM) radio waves. In 1906, Reginald Fessenden broadcast a violin playing “O Holy Night” from Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, Massachusetts to ships off the coast at sea. His broadcasting frequency used Amplitude Modulation, later known as AM radio. The advent of vacuum tube receivers and transmissions in 1920 gave birth to radio stations and the radio industry.

Times and tastes change over time, and as new technologies come online, AM Radio has weathered a century of those. Radio and microwave frequencies, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth spectrum, and even the electromagnetic waves emanating from electric vehicles all crowd those once wide open spaces. But the airwaves of 2023 are also much more congested, just like our highways.

Electric vehicles emit enough of their own electromagnetic waves to interrupt or degrade the signal quality of AM signals into receivers. And signal quality seems to be rapidly declining for AM stations above 1000 on the dial. For television, the industry moved UP the spectrum from NTSC and 525 lines of resolution to HDTV and 1080 lines of data per image per microsecond, refitting all of their transmission towers and

Sports Talk: An Overview of Pickleball

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

Pickleball is a paddle sport that has grown in popularity over the past few years. It is a fun, fastpaced game that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. There are many reasons why pickleball is so enjoyable, from the social aspect to the physical benefits of playing the game.

The game is typically played in pairs with friends or new acquaintances. This makes it a great way to meet new people and socialize. It is also a great way to spend time with friends and family since all ages can participate. Whether you are playing with your kids, your grandparents, or your friends, pickleball is a fun way to bond and spend time together.

Pickleball is so fun because it is easy to learn. The game’s basic rules are simple, and the equipment required is minimal. Unlike other sports, such as tennis or golf, pickleball can be picked up quickly by almost receivers over a period of years and with a multi-billion private sector investment.

Unfortunately, with the electric vehicle sector leading the charge (pun intended), there is a more than a nascent plan and effort to end the placement of AM radio receivers in almost all new automobiles. In recent years, Georgia has experienced multiple hurricanes and significant tropical storms, taking out landline phones, wireless phone service, high-speed internet, and even broadband and fiber lines flooded underground. Through each of these natural disasters, only AM radio continued uninterrupted service with emergency updates, shelter locations, and directions on how to respond to the ongoing wind and flooding.

And though the pandemic did reverse or pause some commuting trends, millions of Americans still spend double-digit hour counts in their automobiles each week, with radio as their most constant companion. The cost of the transmitter is a small fraction of most any other auto component, and even with electric automobiles with concerns over transmission interference impacting performance, there are now multiple technologies available for capturing and delivering AM radio transmissions. During an average month, 82 million Americans, just under one in four, tune in to AM radio. Low-power local AM radio and smaller stations in smaller markets more frequently transmit in Latin languages or are aimed at minority audiences than their more expensive and less extensive FM peers. But unlike cable, high-speed internet, and even that smartphone in your palm, AM radio is delivered to all, free of cost other than access to a receiver or radio.

And in a nation more focused than ever on receiving content, there are more than 4,500 AM radio stations. Each of those stations and their advertisers provides employment and unique reach into every community they serve. As most of us spend several hours per day behind a wheel of some sort – at work, play, or hauling our kids to sports – this daily interaction is also a part of what keeps our public informed.

Former FCC and FEMA commissioners are urging Congress to intercede, mainly over public safety concerns, to keep AM radio receivers in every vehicle and dashboard. WABC in New York has begun a petition. Your signature will help: https://www.change.org/p/save-am-radio-a-partof-the-emergency-alert-system

Post your opposition to axing AM on social media, and sign the petition. Make your concerns and voices heard. Or, when that next big storm hits, and you don’t hear about it from your radio, you may not be in Kansas anymore.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com anyone. This makes it an excellent sport for beginners looking to try something new. Daniel Moore, CEO of Pickleball Central, explains that “pickleball’s popularity is due to its unique blend of skill, strategy, and social interaction. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up but hard to master, which makes it fun and engaging for players of all levels.”

The sport is also a great way to get exercise and stay active. It is a fastpaced game that requires quick movements and agility. Playing pickleball can help improve your cardiovascular health, increase your endurance, and strengthen your muscles. Additionally, because it is a low-impact sport, it is easy on the joints and can be played by people of all ages.

Another aspect that makes pickleball so fun is the game’s competitive nature. While it is a social sport, it can also be quite competitive. Players can challenge themselves to improve their skills and to compete against others. Pickleball tournaments are held throughout the year, which can be a great way to meet other players and to test your skills.

“Pickleball is a sport that can be played indoors or outdoors on any surface. It’s become so popular because it’s accessible anywhere,” says Christine Barksdale, Executive Director of the USA Pickleball Association. It can be played almost anywhere. All you need is a net, some paddles, and a ball. This makes it a great sport to play at the beach, in the park, or even in your own backyard.

Pickleball is an enjoyable sport that people of all ages and skill levels can play. Whether a beginner or an experienced player, pickleball is a game you should check out that can provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment.

More information at https://www.gwinnettpickleball.org/