Liberty 1640 Ordered Off the Air

[rfry]

You are free to your opinion, kindly allow me to have mine.

Probably most people including yours truly have no problem with opinions as long as they are recognized as such by those expressing them, and those exposed to them.

But could suitably educated persons these days justifiably believe, and scientifically prove that physics is a matter of opinion?

//

 

[Liberty 1640]

Wow, we keep finding these forums all over talking about the station. No wonder the live 365 feed listenership has skyrocketed.
I have to say I am shocked by that article in the first post about being threatened to turn it off or be arrested. None of which is true. Also we havent played Alex Jones in ages sense he attacked some fellow patriots. He's just in it for the money. We replaced him with Mike Chambers Live which has enhanced our audience.

Anyway it was just as I said. We are 15.219 which there is no radiation limit. The tests were to determine if the ground wire was radiating. We have two transmitters on that site and they cover better than my Sioux Falls site. due to our ground plane and soil quality. But we can shield the ground wire inside insulated pipe which should not hamper our coverage and from now on we will try to mount transmitters on the soil.

We were never asked to take the station off air by the way. It was very simple. In fact the agent said, "We don't care what you play, we just have to make sure the transmitters are in compliance." Not ever a mention of any of these being pirate radio..

It is sad that there is little freedom especially if you understand what you are doing, dont interfere and know how to properly use your equipment...
But actually there is if you read the general FCC rules. There is a question of Jurisdiction and this case is being tried now in Austin, tx involving a FM. There's also a civil suit on the FCC agents for not having a oath of office and blocking due process in several violations. They plan to take it all the way to the supreme court. Other states are writing resolutions to allow for low power operation w/o any interference from the FCC as these stations are not operating in commerce and do not cross state lines. I also checked in with our sheriff reciently who has the power to mitigate these situations should different agents escalate the issue or if they forget to check into the county office before serving any visits in his county. Our Sheriff said -"Well at least there's something else I can listen to now"!

But yes - if the agents are cooperative we will always go that route because after all we are the citizen and they are the servent.

 

[Carmine5]

Wow, we keep finding these forums all over talking about the station.
I have to say I am shocked by that article in the first post about being threatened to turn it off or be arrested. None of which is true.

Apparently, the editorial content of even respectable online magazines like Inside Radio must be read with a certain degree of skepticism--particularly when it involves a sensational topic like pirate radio.

Obviously Liberty 1640 is NOT a pirate operation.

c5

 

[rfry]

I have to say I am shocked by that article in the first post about being threatened to turn it off or be arrested. None of which is true.

Maybe that article was based on the applicable FCC NOUO ( http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-297432A1.html ), which includes the quote below:

You are hereby warned that operation of radio transmitting equipment
without a valid radio station authorization constitutes a violation of the
Federal laws cited above and could subject the operator to severe
penalties, including, but not limited to, substantial monetary fines, in
rem arrest action against the offending radio equipment, and criminal
sanctions including imprisonment. (see 47 U.S.C. S:S: 401, 501, 503 and
510).

UNLICENSED OPERATION OF THIS RADIO STATION MUST BE DISCONTINUED
IMMEDIATELY.

You have ten (10) days from the date of this notice to respond with any
evidence that you have authority to operate granted by the FCC.

But we can shield the ground wire inside insulated pipe which should not hamper our coverage...

If the unshielded ground wire radiates as was determined by the FCC inspection, and "shielding" it does not hamper the coverage that the system had when the ground wire was unshielded, would that not be conclusive evidence that such shielding is ineffective?

RF

 

[rfry]

Obviously Liberty 1640 is NOT a pirate operation.

Just curious as to what constitutes a true pirate operation, c5.

Given any two unlicensed "broadcast" operations both of which are functionally non-compliant with Part 15, is one NOT a pirate operation if that operator thinks/believes/claims either that he is compliant or not subject to Part 15, and the other operator a pirate if he doesn't claim to be compliant, and doesn't care whether or not Part 15 applies?

RF

 

[Carmine5]

Obviously Liberty 1640 is NOT a pirate operation.

Just curious as to what constitutes a true pirate operation, c5.

Intent and the fact that Liberty 1640 doesn't fit the pattern of a pirate. Pirate broadcasters are true scofflaws. They operate with many watts of power, usually from a transmitter housed in a vacant building and do everything they can to avoid being traced. When they are found, pirates will usually not allow an inspection from an FCC agent and will continue to broadcast despite warnings to shut down.

Liberty 1640, on the other hand, was using type-accepted part 15 transmitters. They willingly allowed an inspection and were found to have a non-compliant ground lead, a "misdemeanor" typical of part 15 broadcasters, which they are now attempting to correct. Liberty is apparently cooperating with field agents to stay in compliance.

However, it is becoming increasingly apparent to me that you, R Fry, have never been in favor of using part 15 for anything other than yardcasting. And I frankly find your hyper-conservative, fundamentalist interpretation of part 15 regulations suspect.

If I had a part 15 station using a type-accepted transmitter, I would much rather follow the guidelines of Keith Hamilton or Chez Radio and take my chances with an inspection from a field agent then follow your "suggestions" as to what constitutes a legal part 15 station (other things being equal).

c5

 

[rfry]

(see above)

Thank you for your comments. It is good for everyone to receive and consider the point of view of others.

RF

 

[druidhillsradio]

"It is good for everyone to receive and consider the point of view of others."

That being said, what is your point of view?

 

[rfry]

...what is your point of view?

That of physics.

 

[jlw]

I've said it before and I'll say it again....250mw is nothing unless the antenna and ground system are out of this world. Running any kind of talk radio from Martha Stewart to Rush, Shawn, or the idiot from San Francisco is like waving a big red flag at the FCC to come for a challenge. Also running radio spots with locally produced commericials is another way to attract not the chief engineer at your local station but someone with a lot more power who is protected under the law and that's the "Sales Manager" who just hearing about you..whether you have a quarter million watts or 100 MW will bring the FCC out because they have to have a complaint on file to get their little trucks and maybe drive 300 miles and stay in a cheap little motel for a week before they catch you. If Somebody complains again about 16 whatever it was, they'll return again if they get another complaint about you from the same crank who reported you. The Fairness Doctrine did not die for the unlicensed 100mw operator, and if people (just one) complains long enough and loud enough...you will wind up being off the air forever . When you're on the air...keep a low profile and play the music the local folks like and you'll be on the air and below the FCC Radar forever.

 

[druidhillsradio]

"...whether you have a quarter million watts or 100 MW will bring the FCC out because they have to have a complaint on file to get their little trucks and maybe drive 300 miles and stay in a cheap little motel for a week before they catch you."

I remember chatting once with a former FCC engineer from the lab in Columbia. MD who told me that the FCC was so cheap that they would not pay for his gas when he used his private vehicle for FCC related work. That may have changed by now.

 

[WCWalker]

The FCC does not shut down part 15 compliant commercial stations. Only those that are alleged to be in violation of the rules.

Typically the only complaints the FCC will act upon are those of a licensed station against a part 15 station. Even then, they don't always shut down a part 15 station after a complaint if the complaint was unfounded.

 

[Steve_Green]

Hya WCW and the gang here.

Just a few thoughts after reading this interesting thread.....

Considering the avalanche of FM pirates in places such as NYC and Boston, I find it inconceivable that the big corporate owners in those major-market locales lack the clout to complain as effectively as seems to be the case as the more localized licensees in smaller markets. After all, these FM pirates are often on first-adjacent frequencies and some occupy the identical frequency as the affected legal stations. Moreover, so many of these LPAM stations are far from the beaten dial path anyway.

So on one hand there are diligent FCC agents coming by as little as a few weeks ago (according to one poster here) to check emissions on an LPAM ..... and on the other hand, there is seemingly no concurrent house-arrest visiting or other action by the same supposedly thin FCC staffing in situations where far more money is at stake.

Doesn't add up.

Are things so tight on corporate radio that, say, Clear Chanel won't blow their huge whistle on a pirate occupying even a first adjacent because the shutdown of the pirate might benefit an Entercom station in town more than it would benefit Clear Channel for the next quarter?

 

[RadioMan203]

I'm really stymied at the way it seems the commission goes out of its way to hang Part 15 AMers while FM pirates keep running without incident. Not far from me there is an FM pirate that has been running for the longest time. They came down and where have supposed to have busted him once but they are back on weekends and evenings. I know they guy is pushing some power as I can hear him several towns over and is even interfering with another station's translator.

It makes no sense to me why this happens unless it's due to certain tail waggers who may have an issue with Part 15 operators as a whole, making things potentially worse for everybody. If this is the case it would mean every school campus and university Part 15 station and not just casual hobbyists that would be in jeopardy of getting unjustly visited and/or potentially harassed.

 

[WCWalker]

Hya WCW and the gang here.

Just a few thoughts after reading this interesting thread.....

Considering the avalanche of FM pirates in places such as NYC and Boston, I find it inconceivable that the big corporate owners in those major-market locales lack the clout to complain as effectively as seems to be the case as the more localized licensees in smaller markets. After all, these FM pirates are often on first-adjacent frequencies and some occupy the identical frequency as the affected legal stations. Moreover, so many of these LPAM stations are far from the beaten dial path anyway.

So on one hand there are diligent FCC agents coming by as little as a few weeks ago (according to one poster here) to check emissions on an LPAM ..... and on the other hand, there is seemingly no concurrent house-arrest visiting or other action by the same supposedly thin FCC staffing in situations where far more money is at stake.

Doesn't add up.

Are things so tight on corporate radio that, say, Clear Chanel won't blow their huge whistle on a pirate occupying even a first adjacent because the shutdown of the pirate might benefit an Entercom station in town more than it would benefit Clear Channel for the next quarter?

Bill. It's easier to go after a Part 15 AM than a pirate FM that is deliberately trying to conceal its location and perhaps, identity.

Hi Steve:

Been a while since we last corresponded. I hope all is well in Coal Patch country. Is your LPFM on the air?

 

[druidhillsradio]

The FCC does not shut down part 15 compliant commercial stations. Only those that are alleged to be in violation of the rules.

As in the case of WKID96.7 in Clearwater, FL. Not only did they get measured, but got a nice interveiw with the FCC Chief from Tampa. Gusee what guys, the FM signal goes farther than 200 feet.

 

[WCWalker]

The FCC does not shut down part 15 compliant commercial stations. Only those that are alleged to be in violation of the rules.

As in the case of WKID96.7 in Clearwater, FL. Not only did they get measured, but got a nice interveiw with the FCC Chief from Tampa. Gusee what guys, the FM signal goes farther than 200 feet.

Then it is not a Part 15 station if the field strength measurement was not compliant for Part 15 AM rules.

 

[Jay Peninger]

The FCC does not shut down part 15 compliant commercial stations. Only those that are alleged to be in violation of the rules.

As in the case of WKID96.7 in Clearwater, FL. Not only did they get measured, but got a nice interveiw with the FCC Chief from Tampa. Gusee what guys, the FM signal goes farther than 200 feet.

Then it is not a Part 15 station if the field strength measurement was not compliant for Part 15 AM rules.

As access to inexpensive transmitters increases these instances will continue to be on the rise it is just in the competitive nature of young people to try and out do their peers and if that means flaunting the law it makes it that much more sexy to them.

I for the longest time was going to make my station an LPFM and I read this forum and understood to law better I soon realized that the effort required to maintain compliance simply out weighed the benefits. If we were doing this purely as a hobby I might have jumped in.

 

[druidhillsradio]

Then it is not a Part 15 station if the field strength measurement was not compliant for Part 15 AM rules.

Huh? What are you saying? This is a FM that was visted, measured and subsequently got an interview at the station from the FCC Tampa Chief. In the interview he said they were compliant.

 

[WCWalker]

Then it is not a Part 15 station if the field strength measurement was not compliant for Part 15 AM rules.

Huh? What are you saying? This is a FM that was visted, measured and subsequently got an interview at the station from the FCC Tampa Chief. In the interview he said they were compliant.

My mistake. Initially when I read this post I was still out of it to some degree from a bad sinus infection and cold. For the better part of a week I had not slept much at all.

Yes, it is possible to have a compliant Part 15 FM signal extend beyond 200 feet. If you mount a Type Accepted transmitter up in the air around 40 feet, the range of that kind of transmitter can approach a half mile in mono.