Royalties? Taxes on advertising money? I don't think pirates would pay either though some do try to show
they do work for the community. Stations like Touch 106.1 have been mentioned in papers like the
Globe in terms of what they've done for the community, not that they necessarily have an FCC
license. Hey, glad they serve the community but again, not licensed.
A 2007 mention in the Globe's calendar section for an event was brought up by L.Glavin on boston-radio-interest:
(UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY)
>>Hmmm...no mention that TOUCH 106.1 is an UNlicensed radio station, possibly interfering with a
duly licensed station broadcasting on 105.7
http://lists.bostonradio.org/pipermail/boston-radio-interest/2007-August/013060.html
Another thread on b-r-i got this comment from Eli (and Donna too, I think): "I've listened to the "station". It is running advertisments, and soliciting them on their website. Legitimately licensed LPFM's are non-commercial.And I wonder if they pay their ASCAP and BMI fees-- the rates have gone up dramatically, which is a story for another day; but no kidding, if you play music, you are supposed to pay them. I don't recall any exemptions for small stations, unless I am reading the
rules incorrectly."
http://lists.bostonradio.org/pipermail/boston-radio-interest/2007-January/010757.html
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I think Touch 106.1 has mentioned being "WTCH-LP 106.1" on their site. So an LPFM is running ads?
And if so, do they report their income to the IRS? Maybe they do and pay taxes, who knows. But
they are not licensed. And if they're running music, indeed are they paying fees to music publishers?
Again, for all I know, maybe they are. The FCC has apparently been like a cop pulling someone over
and saying, "License and registration..." And they have been found wanting, and fined $17k at least.
But if a station is illegal, it is illegal even if it does "help the community". Why can't everyone just throw a transmitter on and run what they want? Interference--who cares? If a classical fan in Boston can't
hear WCRB because of "Datz Hitz", or a 60s music fan in Methuen (my co-worker) can't pick up "Lost and Found" on
WMBR because of a local pirate, then what's the big deal? Of course I'm being sarcastic. I'd be all for a legal station to throw on this programming. Perhaps local college stations or small AMs could give them
the chance. On the north shore we have some Spanish language programming on WMWM. Better to be on a legit station than set up some pirate. (Imagine "La Voz de Verdad 91.5 en Peabody"...)