RadioInk, the online site dedicated to the medium, has been closely following the controversy over the abandonment of AM radio in EVs and other cars, despite protests from broadcasters and politicians. In a recent page featuring letters reacting to the quickly changing radio landscape, it published this from one person opposed to the idea of letting the band die.

“Thousands of AM broadcasters are more worth saving than 2 dozen VHF TV stations on Ch 5 & 6 with no viable consumer receive antennas. It’s time for the US to do as Brazil and start a long-term transition of AM broadcast stations to 76~88 MHz.”

Is this true? Has Brazil sent all its AM stations to the unused top of the FM band? Is that something we could do here with some adjustments? A lot of that spectrum space is already taken up with existing FM stations in North America, so I'm not sure we could actually do this here or whether there would be enough space to save them all.

And could any radio even get the stations if they did such a conversion? My Sangean, for instance, starts at 87.5 on FM and the first real station is Indie88.1, so there is some space. Although there's no way on my gear to tune in the 76-86 MHz range. I'm not sure, but didn't they give some of that spectrum over for cell phone use? Is this even feasible?

I'd love to hear a plan to save AM stations, if not the band they're on. But it has to be one that would work. I'm not sure this one would. But it's an interesting idea.