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It was over a year ago when some electric vehicle manufacturers sought to remove the AM radio component from their vehicle dashboards. Critics responded that broadcast radio is an essential part of our country’s emergency alert infrastructure. And then Congress rushed to address the problem in a bipartisan fashion. But efforts to pass protective legislation stalled this year, at least until now.

A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., has now been signed by a large Senate majority. In the House of Representatives, a whopping 260 members support the measure retaining AM radio. And just the other day Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga, became the tenth member of Georgia’s U.S. House delegation to support the bill.

“The problem,” says Georgia Association of Broadcasters president Bob Houghton, “is that we are running out of time. Due to the November election the number of days Congress will be in session may already be in single digits.”

Houghton notes that in recent years Georgia has experienced two hurricanes that saw the loss of the internet, cell service and even over-the-air television. “Only AM radio remained to deliver important lifesaving information,” he notes. “The truth is that broadcast AM radio is irreplaceable. AM radio is free, reliable with credibility earned over 100 years of serving their local communities.”

“These words have been spoken by members of Congress, Federal Communications Commission commissioners, former Federal Emergency Management Agency directors and anyone who has taken cover in their basements as severe weather strikes with only AM radio available to inform and respond,” he continues. “Consumers view radio in the car as vital. Radio also remains the number one choice for in-car entertainment for new car buyers. And AM radio is recognized at the time of purchase as an important safety feature.”

As this is written, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg obviously knows about the effort to remove AM radio from the car dashboard– yet he has stayed silent. Interestingly, though, he will face an appropriations subcommittee hearing and will be asked why he hasn’t weighed in.

Consider that over 82 million people listen to the radio every month. Farmers are reliant on AM radio for important information, since many rural areas still do not have reliable broadband service. AM radio is listened to by urban residents representing underserved minority communities. And religious broadcasters deliver their spoken word content mainly on AM radio.

Houghton is calling on Georgians to contact their members of Congress to quickly pass the legislation to keep AM radio in vehicles. He asks that people stress that passage is needed for three main reasons: First and foremost, for safety. Second, because of the unique formats that won’t otherwise be available for underserved communities. And third, to provide important information in areas not served by broadband or news talk radio.