Faith on the Airwaves — Why Christians Should Care About the Fight to Keep AM and FM Radio in Cars
A quiet but significant shift is taking place on car dashboards across America — the gradual disappearance of traditional AM and FM radio. Many modern vehicles from brands like Tesla, Volvo, BMW, and General Motors now replace the familiar tuner with digital streaming apps such as TuneIn, offering access to thousands of online stations and podcasts. While this technological evolution may seem like progress, it’s raising serious concerns among lawmakers, faith leaders, and safety advocates. Beyond nostalgia, AM and FM radio have long served as lifelines during national emergencies — especially in remote or disaster-stricken areas where the internet fails. For millions of Christians, these airwaves are also spiritual anchors, carrying the gospel, sermons, and worship music into homes, highways, and hearts.
Congress is stepping in to defend the future of free broadcast radio through new bipartisan bills, H.R. 979 and S. 315, which aim to require automakers to keep AM and FM receivers in vehicles. Lawmakers argue that digital exclusivity not only jeopardizes emergency communication but also silences a vital platform for community connection and faith-based programming. As streaming dominates the dashboard, this debate has become more than a tech issue — it’s a cultural one. For Christians, the preservation of AM and FM isn’t just about staying tuned in; it’s about keeping the voice of faith, hope, and truth accessible to every listener, everywhere — even when the Wi-Fi goes dark.
