Another Day, Another Couple Of Pirates Busted...

[DToTheJ]

The FCC has issued $10,000 fines to Ronald Reid of The Bronx, for operating a pirate radio broadcast on 107.3 FM, and Plainfield, NJ resident Marixsa Rolon, for not operation, but "providing services" related to not one, but two pirate frequencies at 90.1 FM and 96.7 FM.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Full story:
http://www.rbr.com/radio/24151.html

 

[nd2023]

90.1 really killed WVPH 90.3's signal when it was on, it was a major pest considering the pirate was only 5 miles from the WVPH tower and we're only 100 watts, the pirate probably had more power. I actually got a phone call from a listener complaining about the music bleeding on to 90.3 from the 90.1 pirate.

90.1 was playing uncensored rap and 96.7 was some ethnic format.

107.3 in the Bronx is quite possibly the worst frequency choice. There's 107.5 WBLS and its -14 dBc IBUZ and 107.1 The Peak. 87.9 would make a better frequency choice.

 

[paganwoof]

94.5 and 92.7 are next.

 

[Cosmopolite]

Does the FCC confiscate their equipment?

 

[DToTheJ]

107.3 in the Bronx is quite possibly the worst frequency choice. There's 107.5 WBLS and its -14 dBc IBUZ and 107.1 The Peak...

... that is, The Peak in nearby Westchester (in fact, right up "The Hutch"). Not that I advocate pirate radio broadcasting, nor do I know a single thing about it, but you have to admit that frequency choice in such an area is clever.

 

[d21ofnj]

I'm waiting for them to bust 87.9 and 103.9

 

[rapking]

PIRATE RADIO RULES !!!!! FCC IS LAME !!!

 

[nd2023]

I guarantee the pirates that just got the NALs are still broadcasting now. The FCC won't see a cent from them. So in a way, Rapking is right.

 

[badjef]

I guarantee the pirates that just got the NALs are still broadcasting now. The FCC won't see a cent from them. So in a way, Rapking is right.

He'll grow out of it if he gets serious about broadcasting - and realize the "pirates" are taking money out of his pocket.

Turn-about is always fun to watch.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[MN Maniac]

Very doubtful the FCC will ever see a dime of that $10,000 NAL. About the best they can do is confiscate their equipment and hope the pirates don't have sufficient funds to replace it.

And so it goes...

 

[R.F. Burns]

I talked recently to an FCC inspector about pirate activity and going as far to tell him specifically where a long time pirate had been operating from. His answer was that their problem is that they can issue citations to operators, but if the pirate moves to another location they have to start from the beginning and so reaching the point of shut down is almost impossible. Going after licensed operators is much easier and more lucrative. They only have administrative rights and not policing so they have to have local police cooperation to shut anyone down. I guess pirate radio activity is a minor crime for most local agencies and they probably don't want to commit a great too many "man hours" to combating these outlaws. It isn't that the FCC condones this, it's that in most instances their hands are tied. the answer is to contact our representatives and complain to them so that they can put some muscle into the FCC. For most people if you receive a citation you get scared and shut down. These operators are outlaws and I for one would love to see prison time go along with any monetary penalty. The dollar fines are just part of doing business for many of these operators

 

[rapking]

I guarantee the pirates that just got the NALs are still broadcasting now. The FCC won't see a cent from them. So in a way, Rapking is right.

He'll grow out of it if he gets serious about broadcasting - and realize the "pirates" are taking money out of his pocket.

Turn-about is always fun to watch.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

Wrong ! Pirate Radio is puttin' local ownership, local airstaff and local listeners back on the air. Big Companies dont give a crap about there workforce or there listeners.

 

[badjef]

Very doubtful the FCC will ever see a dime of that $10,000 NAL. About the best they can do is confiscate their equipment and hope the pirates don't have sufficient funds to replace it.

And so it goes...

...The FCC auctions off the equipment to another "pirate", bust him, then do it all over again.
And so it goes...

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[nd2023]

They should at least save the equipment, and test it to see how clean the signal is. If it's good, give it to a LPFM that needs it.

 

[badjef]

They should at least save the equipment, and test it to see how clean the signal is. If it's good, give it to a LPFM that needs it.

That's the (hopefully) purpose of the auction. But the FCC will not just "give" the equipment to an LPFM.

I don't know what type of equipment the pirates use, but if it were me, I would start in the ham gear and retune.

If it is not possible with the new stuff, I'd probably look up ebay on the older stuff that might be more flexible. Maybe look oversees to stuff which could be used.

Yeah, you're right. The stuff may not sound too clean, but that's how I usually spot a pirate. They are too egotistic to care what the listener is hearing, anyway.

And "rapking", I would suggest you see my post in the NJ board and check out "The Jersey shore shuffle" and see how I shut down MickeyD and his comment on pirates.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[blackgold]

'Scuse me, Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta. I'm afraid that those pirates will be back on the air in a day or two. And their formats will continue, hardly missing a beat. After all, corporate radio is hurting because of management and focus groups. If it takes a pirate radio station to give the radio back to the community(notwithstanding my ambivalence to it, of course), then so be it. Local communities need local voices and those brave pirates deserve a round of applause.

 

[nd2023]

Nothing gets done about pirates, besides letters. They can ignore those NOUOs and NALs all they want. The FCC and police will only raid one or two pirates a year in the country. This year, one of the raids was in Orlando for a guy advertising drug dealers with his pirate station. Bottom line is, the pirate has to be doing other illegal stuff to get raided. There are a couple high profile pirates in Boston that have been on for years and never been raided. The FCC agents have better things to do. Even if they visit a pirate, the station won't even go off the air after they leave, if they're allowed entry at all.

I wish we could just get a large group of people organized to raid the pirates ourselves. But alas, I'm not too concerned about pirates. The only two pirates I really hated were 87.9 in Newark and 90.1 in Plainfield. 87.9 interfered with my beloved Pulse 87, and 90.1 interfered with 90.3 The Core only 5 miles away from the transmitter and played uncensored rap.

 

[badjef]

'Scuse me, Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta. I'm afraid that those pirates will be back on the air in a day or two. And their formats will continue, hardly missing a beat.

More than likely.

After all, corporate radio is hurting because of management and focus groups. If it takes a pirate radio station to give the radio back to the community(notwithstanding my ambivalence to it, of course), then so be it. Local communities need local voices and those brave pirates deserve a round of applause.

At some point, 87.7 and 87.9 may be added to the list of allocations. But it won't be from a pirate!
There are licensees that may be willing to make some kind of arrangement if you want to get serious about broadcasting. Especially if it's an AM station.
Pirates to be applauded, hardly! That is criminal activity! It is akin to somebody coming into your house and setting up shop because there is no available housing. Put the shoe on the other foot.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[rapking]

Pirate Radio Stations is the future of radio ! Big companies Trash the Radio !

 

[nd2023]

Rapking, please stop being a cheerleader for pirate stations. No one thinks you're funny.