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Might B87.7 be the most 'legit'/'mainstream' pirate in the US?

Can anyone speak to this in other markets?

B87.7 was a part of this write-up on Urban Radio and how it relates to campaigning and politics in Boston (which does not exist on the legal FM Dial) that was front page on the 'website today. Folks like 'Boston Rob' are engaging with Notorious VOG on Twitter. This is, of course, apart from city police, politicians etc.

Is there any other pirate in the US that has so much visibility and cloud and is going on 15 years strong?

Boston mayoral candidates find new ways to reach an audience amid a pandemic - The Boston Globe

"Besides “Politics and Prosecco,” there’s “Java with Jimmy,” also a regular Facebook Live stream. Hosts on the “Notorious in the Morning” radio show on b87fm.com, which bills itself as Boston’s urban radio station, have equally called out and praised candidates in the mayor’s race (a few have been guests), and weighed in on matters such as disparities in the COVID-19 response and vaccination effort. And Ron Bell, a longtime political operative in Boston, has been hosting the “Boston Black News” program on Boston Praise and Radio TV, which describes itself as the only “church-based, Black-owned” multiplatform broadcaster in New England."

"Paul Parara, the radio host known as Notorious VOG, said his listeners are loyal because they expect him to challenge public officials on issues affecting Black and brown communities. He’s featured officials such as state Representative Liz Miranda, Governor Charlie Baker, and Senator Edward Markey on the show. Now, he’s seen candidates and elected officials become even more eager to connect with him and his audience.

City Councilor Michelle Wu, the first candidate to challenge former mayor Martin J. Walsh before he was tapped for President Biden’s Cabinet, has appeared multiple times. State Representative Jon Santiago, also a mayoral candidate, has appeared, and discussed the COVID-19 pandemic (he is also a doctor), and City Councilor Andrea Campbell, another candidate, appeared as well."
OVN47JZJULKQC3O6ELGURPRBGE.jpg
Notorious VOG appears in the studio to the right.
 
It definitely has nice quality equipment and sounds legitamite unlike the other unlicensed radio stations in our state and more specifically in Boston. As a format it definitely lives up to its brand it has a very Urban Adult Contemporary style format with many tracks not normally heard on WJMN-FM and WBQT. It also plays some Reggae too. One day I happened to tune in and heard a Skip Marley song. Its very intagrated into community issues as you cited with that link to the article and that picture you posted. B87.7 doesn't have the signal strength it once had which I'd guessing was a result of getting busted by the FCC before. It used to come in quite clear down here in the South Shore. Now its very fringe once you get into the South Shore area. I definitely think that it has been pulled once or twice from the airwaves since being an unlicensed station comes with the risk of getting a knock at the door especially with the insane signal strength it once had.
 
Touch FM also was a must-do gig for Boston politicians. I doubt any of them either then or today had any idea that they were appearing on an illegal station.
 
Back in 2011 it signal came through pretty well all the way out to the 495 belt to the North and South. It definitely has been knocked off the air at least 2 times since 2007. Prior to the true social media explosion, they were pretty big with ticket giveaways and event promotions. It was even a part of their on-air tag.

As far as people not knowing their illegal stations.... thats very unlikely. Even when TOUCH 106 was on the air much local reporting was done on its illegal status and the owner of Touch 106 (Former Boston Police Officer Charles Clemons (aka Charles Clemons) ran for mayor of Boston in 2013, he cited his march to Washington on behalf of his station and stations like it as a credential.

Politicians such as Julia Mejia and Andrea Campbell, who live in the coverage area, surely know this is an illegal station. Especially Councilor Mejia who regularly corresponds with Notorious VOG online.
 
As far as people not knowing their illegal stations.... thats very unlikely. Even when TOUCH 106 was on the air much local reporting was done on its illegal status and the owner of Touch 106 (Former Boston Police Officer Charles Clemons (aka Charles Clemons) ran for mayor of Boston in 2013, he cited his march to Washington on behalf of his station and stations like it as a credential.

I believe in many of those reports, Clemons was quoted erroneously claiming he "had a licence"....and was a legal "low powered station". And even made up call letters.

Some may have believed him.
 
Of the two pirates mentioned in the article above, "Big City" simply changed frequency from 101.3 to 88.5, and is still on the air.

"B87.7" came back on the air within days with no change, still on.
 
10 years ago I actually heard B87.7 all the way in New Jersey on tropo. Granted, it was a strong tropo opening with many Boston stations coming in HD. But still, very impressive for a pirate station to make it that far. I thought that was impressive until I heard some pirate stations from the Miami area in New Jersey during an e-skip opening
 
10 years ago I actually heard B87.7 all the way in New Jersey on tropo. Granted, it was a strong tropo opening with many Boston stations coming in HD. But still, very impressive for a pirate station to make it that far.
Yeah it had quite a strong signal about a decade ago for a pirate. Since being shut down by the Feds in 2018 its lost much of that signal. Still, even with its reduction in signal it still has great sound quality that many must interpret as legitimate. It doesn't sound like someone talking into a plastic cup like alot of the other pirates in Boston.

I thought that was impressive until I heard some pirate stations from the Miami area in New Jersey during an e-skip opening
That's interesting! I'm curious what type of formats were the Miami pirates?
 
i wanna see these pirates compete on a legal level with a licensed station.

They couldnt do it.. not being legal, they dont have a ton of fees and licensing requirements and equipment requirements to me. I highly doubt most pirate stations pay their staff either

End of story
 
i wanna see these pirates compete on a legal level with a licensed station.

They couldnt do it.. not being legal, they dont have a ton of fees and licensing requirements and equipment requirements to me. I highly doubt most pirate stations pay their staff either

End of story
Most of the staff is probably working for the joy of being on-the-air. Also, some of the ads they run may not actually be paid for, but part of an illusion to appear legitimate to those paid advertisers they do have.
 
The FCC has approved the move of the Ch 6 LPTV station W06DH, licensed to Westmoreland, NH - to the Cabot Street (aka Candelabra) tower in Needham at 1000 feet. This will affect B87.7, and anything else on 87.7 or 87.9. While the LPTV signal itself may not be overpowering, they will soon be interfering with a licensed station.

Coverage map (from W06DH application):

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f917ac5f768017aca9782c10b9a
I think B87.7 should save their money and lease that Franken FM. Then they can go legitimate and keep their audience
 
I think B87.7 should save their money and lease that Franken FM. Then they can go legitimate and keep their audience

its funny you think they have the money and would be able to comply with actual broadcasting laws
 
... is this even a Franken FM?

uh no.. its a pirate. and hes talking about the fact they should lease the channel 6 moving to boston
 
An analog Franken FM wasn't really breaking any rules, technically - they just put something simple on the video signal, and unrelated Franken FM programming on the audio signal. But to do that on DTV ch. 6, they would need to modify the DTV transmitter to reduce the signal bandwidth enough to leave the upper portion, around 87.7 free, and have a separate analog FM transmitter running at 87.7. It is highly unlikely the current pre-move W06DH signal is configured that way. However anyone who drives through their current coverage area, north of Worcester, could check on their radio.

When W06DH moves to Cabot Street, the upper portion of the DTV signal will be on 87.7. That will interfere with B87.7, and B87.7 will harm the signal coverage of W06DH, which will put B87.7 in the position of interfering with a licensed broadcaster.

However, should the FCC actually decide to license new DTV Franken FM's, then hypothetically, W06DH could convert to that format and make a deal with B87.7. However that really seems as likely as the return of the Dumont Network...
 
However, should the FCC actually decide to license new DTV Franken FM's, then hypothetically, W06DH could convert to that format and make a deal with B87.7. However that really seems as likely as the return of the Dumont Network...

that would be too costly for B87.7.. and theyd have to follow some rules
 
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