Part One: A Brief
History of Micropower Broadcasting
Pirate radio, low power radio, micro
broadcasting, community radio. A host of different
terms all describing the same phenomenon:
the increasing number of small, unlicensed
radio stations in the United States. In the
past ten years, pirate broadcasting has grown
from a few isolated stations in basements
and garages, to an organized national movement.
Since last June, the Federal Communications
Commission has been cracking down on pirate
broadcasters. But despite the FCC's best efforts,
there are still about a thousand pirates on
the air, and more popping up every day. In
the first of a three-part series, Petra Mayer
has more on pirate broadcasters and their
battle for free speech on the air.
Listen to part one: 28.8K bps | ISDN
(10:38 minutes)
Part Two: Free
Radio Berkeley
Since 1978, it's been illegal to operate
a radio station with under a hundred watts
of transmitter power. That hasn't stopped
pirate broadcasters, who say the ban violates
their free speech rights. After complaints
from commercial broadcasters, the FCC last
year began a crackdown on unlicensed broadcasting.
But the Commission has become embroiled in
a court battle with one station, Free Radio
Berkeley, that could open up space on the
dial for microbroadcasters. In the second
part of this three-part series, Petra Mayer
visits Free Radio Berkeley.
Listen to part three: 28.8K bps | ISDN
(10:26 minutes)
Part Three: Legalization?
The Federal Communications Commission
banned low-power broadcasting in 1978, giving
rise to a national pirate radio movement.
Now pirate broadcasters are duking it out
with the Federal Communications Commission
in court. But while the legal battle rages,
two Virginia pirate activists, along with
their lawyer, are asking the FCC to legalize
micropower. They're calling for frequencies
to be set aside in every community for a national
micropower service. And the FCC says it's
considering the request. Petra Mayer has more,
in the conclusion to this three-part series
on microbroadcasting.
Listen to part three: 28.8K bps | ISDN
(8:44 minutes)
You can also view the
script
E-mail Petra
