Some analysis follows by my Tampa Florida source regarding the Tampa area pirates busted by the FCC a few days ago. Saul Chernos schernos@torfree.net
I don't think the Party Pirate or others were closed because of the Wall Street Journal article. There have been efforts to close these stations for two years. I have been told on very good authority that part of the reason this is happening now, is because a court ruled in favor of Free Radio Berkley, that "higher ups" in the Commission blew their stack because of this and decided to take measures into their own hands. Now, whether this is just another broadcast industry rumor, YOU decide. However, it is pretty extreme for towers and such to be completely dismantled, at least in this area. In fact, I can't remember the last time anything like this happened here.
Finally, one other issue: The stations silenced were causing interference. Well, at least two of them were. 87.9 interfered with a licensed broadcaster on 88.1 and threw spurs into the 106+ MHz range. 96.7 interfered with a co-channel translator and threw spurs which caused interference to licensed broadcasters on 92.5, 94.9 and maybe one other. There were also allegations the Party Pirate, on 102.1, caused intereference to a station on 102.5.
Needless to say, the FM dial was getting to be a mess here. Something had to be done though I do question how the FCC did it and the timing thereof.
NOTE FROM SAUL CHERNOS: The above information is from an employee at a licenced Tampa area station, which perhaps explains his opinion that "something had to be done" But I find his questioning of the FCC's methodology and timing rather interesting. FYI...
Saul Chernos Toronto Canada
****** A-Infos News Service ***** News about and of interest to anarchists
Subscribe -> email MAJORDOMO@TAO.CA with the message SUBSCRIBE A-INFOS Info -> http://www.tao.ca/ainfos/ Reproduce -> please include this section