In the days before television and the internet, and even FM radio, the AM frequency was America’s go-to spot for entertainment and news. Even as late as 1978, half of all radio listeners tuned in to the AM dial.
But by 2011, AM listeners had fallen to just 15 percent of total listeners, an average of 3.1 million people.
These days, consumer electronic devices like smartphones and iPods often interfere with AM signals, causing static and other interruptions. Some say we should let the AM frequency die, but Ajit Pai, the lone Republican Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, is on a mission to save the AM signal.Â
Commissioner Pai joins The Takeaway to the importance of AM radio, and its history.Â
Check out this album of listener submitted photos of their radios. To submit your own photo visit Facebook.com/TheTakeaway or tweet us @TheTakeaway.
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