Report about FCC Commissioner Michael OâRielly's proposal to silence pirate radio stations.
Produced for April 13, 2015, but can run the next few days. More info: newsroom.free103point9.org newsroom.wgxc.org. From Wave Farm Radio and WGXC. wavefarm.org wgxc.org
Leslie Stimson in Radio World reports that last week FCC Commissioner Michael OâRielly released a jeremiad on pirate radio broadcasting. His proposal would let corporate broadcasters take pirates to court, and is modeled after the CAN-SPAM Act that lets ISPs sue spammers. But the Republican commissionerâs declaration of war is a strange one, as it admits that, âstopping pirate radio is not at the top of the priority list.â It also seems to use the form of a posted-online-press-release to fight the public relations battle the FCCâs been losing to glamorous pirates. âThey are not cute; they are not filling a niche; they are not innovation test beds; and they are not training grounds for future broadcasters,â OâReilly writes. He also says, âpirate radio does not increase media diversity. From time to time, arguments have been made that we should look the other way because some pirate radio operators may be minorities, or the stationsâ content appeals to minority listeners.â Instead, OâReilly offers that, âapproaches like the NABâs Broadcast Leadership Training Program should be encouraged to prepare underrepresented populations for leadership and ownership positions in broadcasting.â Then, for the underrepresented minorities with lots of money to spend, he says, âAlternatively, those truly interested in operating a legal broadcast station can seek to participate in the Commissionâs July 2015 auction, in which 131 FM construction permits will be available, many in smaller and less expensive markets.â A day after OâReillyâs statement, on April 9, the FCC issued a $15,000 fine against Jose Alejandro Aguilar for operating a pirate radio station in Louisville, Ky. Aguilar was operating âRadio Pasion 316â on 87.5-FM and 99.5-FM MHz in Louisville. Currently, other broadcasters cannot sue him, but he has 30 days to pay the FCC, or the case may be turned over to the Justice Department for collection, Radio World reports.
Radio News The FCC and Pirate Radio April 13, 2015
Radio news about radio waves.
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April 13, 2015
Produced at Wave Farm/WGXC in the Hudson Valley, New York.