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We
Interrupt Your Normal Show to Bring You an Important Message from
Michael Powell and the FCC: "Go to Hell, Americans!"
Driving long distances in the Washington, D.C. area has one advantage--C-Span radio is good company. I am unsure as to how its signal will be affected by the FCC handover of the airwaves to media wolves today, but C-Span served me well yesterday. For I was able to listen to all the FCC commissioners speak in defense of their votes to loosen media ownership rules.
No Surrender, No Retreat!
FCC! We don't need your stinkin' permission to broadcast!
There will soon come a time when it will be hard to find a commercial radio
station on the airwaves. This will be a time when radio stations
can play anything they like and say whatever they like. These stations
won't care about ratings, demographics, marketing, or focus groups.
They won't be owned in groups of 100 by huge corporations. This
era has just begun. The beginning of this era is being brought to
you by Pirate Radio!
Anarchists and many others feel that governments DON'T have the
right to regulate the airwaves. Governments argue that regulation
is necessary to prevent chaos on the airwaves. We don't want chaos
on the airwaves, but we feel that ordinary people, through global
cooperation, are the best people to decide things about the airwaves.
The current system awards "official access" to the airwaves only
to those with money. This has to stop and it will. The airwaves
belong to all of us!
NAB Protest in Washington DC
April 14, 2000 -- Micro-radio protesters try to present "Bad
Neighbor Award" to NAB president outside NAB headquarters because
of NAB's efforts to thwart legal micro-radio. Late-breaking news:
Congress voted against legal micro-radio after report was filed.
April 13, 2000.
More...
(video)
Beat Radio, the FCC, and you!
"Our fight for the implementation of low-power FM has succeeded; but
we're still in Federal Court with the FCC over the issue of the
agency's historic refusal to license low-power FM stations of under
100 watts and its action against Beat Radio in November, 1996. (go
to Beat Radio Press for the complete story of Beat Radio and Beat
Radio News & Issues for the latest status report)." More...
Micropower Broadcasting Council of War - May 27
April 24, 2000 - In response to the National Association of
Broadcasters open declaration of war on the micropower broadcasting
movement, community radio, and Free Speech, a national gathering
of micropower broadcasters, media activists, and supporters will
convene in Berkeley, California on Saturday, May 27. Our goal is
to plan and create a national campaign for the liberation of the
broadcast airwaves from the corporate media stranglehold on the
free flow of news, information, artistic expression, and cultural
diversity. Not only will we increase our efforts in FM broadcasting,
we will expand them to include micropower AM and TV broadcasting
as well. You are cordially invited to attend this very important
meeting. More...
Reclaiming Mobilization Radio
April 17, 2000 - Mobilization Radio, which had been disseminating
information thruout the past week about the activities of the IMF/World
Bank actions as they have happened, raided by the DC police, the
FBI and at least one official from the FCC. The enforcement squad
arrived at about 3:30, without a warrant, and ordered the station
closed. A standoff ensued for about two hours, during which time
the authorities refused to make any comment or even to explain why
they were there. They blocked traffic on the entire road and restricted
access for any non-residents into the alleged broadcast building
or any of several adjacent buildings on either side. More...
Free Radio Austin Rejects FCC License
2/10/2000 - The Free Radio Austin Programmer's Collective
has voted by overwhelming consensus to reject the current Low-Power
FM licensing scheme adopted by the FCC in their official Report
and Order. The FCC's LPFM licensing fails to meet the standards
set forth in Free Radio Austin's Mission Statement, and does not
live up to our Mandate from the Public. We question the FCC's "truthfulness
and reliability" in creating an adequate licensing policy that will
meet the needs of local communities. More...
FCC ruling won't affect low-power radio pioneer
The Federal Communications Commission may be ready to sanction micro-power
radio stations, but the Springfield man regarded as the father of
the movement apparently isn't interested.
Mbanna Kantako, who has operated the low-power station now known
as Human Rights Radio 106.5 FM since 1987, will not seek a license
for his station, and he is still under orders from the FCC to shut
it down, an associate of Kantako said.
More...
Focusing on the real issues: Stephen Dunifer
As you all know I have some major reservations and concern about engaging
the FCC on their terms. While we attempt to create widespread response
and support for micropower broadcasting, directing it toward the
FCC during the comment period, we must not lose our focus. An exceptional
opportunity exists now for a masssive outreach and education campaign.
Terms of debate and engagement must go beyond the rulemaking process.
As a movement we need to frame the arguments around the concept
of the airwaves being a public trust and resource and clearly defined
First Amendment Rights. More...
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