The FM Band is full!

[nd2023]

I noticed a pirate station on every possible second adjacent and some first adjacents in Brooklyn. There was more than 1 pirate on some frequencies. Most of them were strong, and some of them came in at a subway station stronger than the Empire State Building stations. There is literally no room on the FM band for another pirate station. Didn't check the AM band but I'm sure there are pirate stations there.

87.9 88.1 88.7 88.9 90.1 90.5 90.9 91.3 91.9 92.7 93.5 94.3 94.5 95.1(multiple) 95.9 96.7 97.5 98.3 99.1 99.3 99.9(multiple) 100.7 101.5(multiple) 102.3 103.1 103.9 104.7(multiple) 105.5 105.7 106.3 107.1 107.9

All of them sounded like the typical ethnic pirate station in this area. If you're a fan of Caribbean music, there are enough stations to fill up all your presets and more. The FCC could make millions if they visited Brooklyn.

 

[edarmsttrong]

Maybe the FCC should think about handing out some licenses...

 

[Ozman]

Occasionally I can get 1 or 2 pirates in Greenwich CT especially on 95.1. ( I check I-95 the most seeming I am trying to listen to rock music on the radio still

 

[neo11]

I noticed a pirate station on every possible second adjacent and some first adjacents in Brooklyn. There was more than 1 pirate on some frequencies. Most of them were strong, and some of them came in at a subway station stronger than the Empire State Building stations. There is literally no room on the FM band for another pirate station. Didn't check the AM band but I'm sure there are pirate stations there.

87.9 88.1 88.7 88.9 90.1 90.5 90.9 91.3 91.9 92.7 93.5 94.3 94.5 95.1(multiple) 95.9 96.7 97.5 98.3 99.1 99.3 99.9(multiple) 100.7 101.5(multiple) 102.3 103.1 103.9 104.7(multiple) 105.5 105.7 106.3 107.1 107.9

All of them sounded like the typical ethnic pirate station in this area. If you're a fan of Caribbean music, there are enough stations to fill up all your presets and more. The FCC could make millions if they visited Brooklyn.

Don't forget 96.1 and 106.9! And Streetz 96.5/96.7! (Unless that's what you heard on 96.7...I believe there's another 96.7 in Brooklyn though).

And never say never about there not being room...as we've seen with 94.5, 96.1, 96.5, 106.9, etc., the pirates have no problem cramming themselves onto first-adjacent frequencies!

 

[BruceS8852]

I say that when pirates are caught, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Their operations interfere with legitimate broadcasters who pay big bucks for the licenses. The FCC should also confiscate their equipment.

Bruce

 

[neo11]

I say that when pirates are caught, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Their operations interfere with legitimate broadcasters who pay big bucks for the licenses. The FCC should also confiscate their equipment.

Bruce

As bad as the situation with the pirates is, I don't believe in jail time for them, nor do I think that even that threat would make any difference. I'm pretty sure, for instance, that jail time is a punishment for pirates in the UK, yet London has over 80 of them on FM.

There's two solutions to this issue: 1) actual vigilant enforcement by the FCC, which is completely lacking, and 2) Allowing licenses to be issued for LPFM stations even on second-adjacent frequencies. Despite what some others will surely come in and start saying about how "anyone" can apply for a license, how the airwaves are already full, blah blah blah, it's a pretty safe bet that in NYC, there are *many* community groups, ethnic groups, organizations, colleges and universities, etc. who would love to be able to get on the air, legally, but currently cannot. Because while it may be the case that in less urban and especially rural parts of the country, one could easily apply for and obtain a broadcast license (to broadcast to the cornfields), in an urban area like NYC and with the way FCC rules are structured, there's no chance that anyone could actually be granted a new license to broadcast.

 

[nd2023]

I was just talking about the Brooklyn pirates. Newark has just as many pirate stations. And in some places, the Newark and Brooklyn pirates interfere with each other. The pirates prevent reception of semi-locals on the second adjacents that would come in fine if the pirates weren't there.
I can envision the day when every FM frequency is occupied by a licensed or pirate station. Those pirate stations are like people who parallel park between 2 legally parked cars when there is little space between the cars, and the space they squeezed into is in front of a fire hydrant. Now, no one can get out easily.

 

[TheBigA]

2) Allowing licenses to be issued for LPFM stations even on second-adjacent frequencies.

That's like saying the way to cut down on crime is to make everything legal.

The primary duty of the FCC is technical. That's why it was created. They've attempted to use their authority for other roles, but policing the airwaves is their job, and they're not doing it. That makes the value of the licenses they oversee practically useless.

The Commissioners, led by Michael Copps, make all these public statements about broadcasters not living up to their obligations. Meanwhile, the FCC has completely failed to live up to its most basic role.

there are *many* community groups, ethnic groups, organizations, colleges and universities, etc. who would love to be able to get on the air, legally, but currently cannot.

Doesn't matter. That's no justification for breaking the law, and allowing lawbreakers to operate. A country without laws and consequences is not a country anymore. It's simply a grouping of people. There is no universal right to the airwaves.

 

[neo11]

That's like saying the way to cut down on crime is to make everything legal.

No it isn't. The pirate stations aren't being legalized. The opportunity is being created for new legal stations to operate. And if some pirate stations apply, well, that's not unprecedented. I mentioned this on the FCC thread, but in the UK, a country with a long history of pirate broadcasting, some legal, established stations have their roots as pirates. Kiss 100 is an example.

And by allowing legal operators to broadcast, it squeezes out the pirates in two ways: fewer frequencies for them to take over, and less of a "need" for them to exist.

Doesn't matter. That's no justification for breaking the law, and allowing lawbreakers to operate. A country without laws and consequences is not a country anymore. It's simply a grouping of people. There is no universal right to the airwaves.

New LPFM stations wouldn't be breaking the law. They would be licensed. You're steering the discussion in a completely different and irrelevant direction.

 

[TheBigA]

The pirate stations aren't being legalized. The opportunity is being created for new legal stations to operate.

There is no benefit to the FCC to have more radio stations to regulate. Especially at a time when their budget is being cut. More does not translate to better. Also, if these are non-commercial stations, the place for them is in the non-commercial band. Not causing interference in the commercial band.

I expect that within a few years, big chunks of the AM band will become available. It's time for the government to think about new uses for AM radio to revive a dying band.

And by allowing legal operators to broadcast, it squeezes out the pirates in two ways: fewer frequencies for them to take over, and less of a "need" for them to exist.

That’s a very idealistic point of view. You solve the problems of a handful of pirates, but there are hundreds more to take their place.

 

[oaktree]

Question: If the FCC were to "hand out" LPFM licenses (which they won't,) how will that solve any problem? Those who don't have a license or won't get one "legally" (remember, these aren't like getting driver's licenses,)

The frequencies being misused and abused by pirates won't be any different if legalized licensees get them ... there will always be those who test the "enforcement" of the Commission and will do so no matter what.

The result: The FM band will still be loaded, probably to the max, (first and second adjacent channels) and the less than perfect technical quality (spurious emissions, off frequency carriers, over power transmissions and interference with broadcasters) will only make the situation worse.

They aren't making new FM channels. They are making more pirates.

The only cure, for now, will be enforcement. Banning illegal transmitters won't change a thing. Enforcement is unlikely in a city as big as New York ... and the pirates know it.

Question: When was the last time any of the posters ever called the FCC enforcement division and/or the the regional office to not onlly lodge a complaint (or six) ... but to help in triangulation of signals, whereabouts, signals, etc.?

No one wants to get involved, but there are lots of complainers.

 

[Bongwater]

I say that when pirates are caught, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Their operations interfere with legitimate broadcasters who pay big bucks for the licenses. The FCC should also confiscate their equipment.

Bruce

There's too many of them. And not enough jail space.

The FCC has had to cut back on enforcement - not enough funding.

Unless you want to raise taxes.....

 

[oaktree]

Oh, there's plenty of "jail" space. It becomes "prison space" .. illegal pirating of broadcast frequencies is a federal felony, not a misdemeanor on the local level.

It comes back to enforcement. And funding has a lot to do with that.

 

[TomT]

The FCC could easily handle the pirates--if it would hire more field engineers and fire the battalions of lawyers occupying space in Washington. The FCC was created to police interference. Instead it wastes funds checking the public files at college stations and daytime stations in Montana.

 

[TheBigA]

The FCC could easily handle the pirates--if it would hire more field engineers and fire the battalions of lawyers occupying space in Washington. The FCC was created to police interference. Instead it wastes funds checking the public files at college stations and daytime stations in Montana.

It's worse than that. All the time and money they wasted on Janet Jackson and Howard Stern. All the time and money they wasted persecuting the few people dumb enough to own stations, threatening them with more regulations, while doing nothing about the pirates. It's like judges who try to legislate from the bench!

 

[John Waywoods]

FCC is a form of morality police. They sidestep the first amendment and nobody seems to mind. Oh well.

 

[nd2023]

I would love to have spent this summer helping to shut down all the pirates in this region.
But I could give the FCC the exact coordinates of the pirate station's antenna and the exact ERP and they will do nothing. Maybe they'll send a courtesy letter politely asking them to shut down or else they might get fined within 100 years.

 

[RadioStarOne]

That reminds me I need a new 5 KW FM Transmitter to replace my old one. They can't get us all. lol lol

 

[TheBigA]

It struck me that the Senate just approved three new Commissioners to the FCC, including a new Chairman, and the subject of piracy didn't even come up! Not in days of hearings, which were overshadowed by the grilling of the new Supreme Court nominee.

 

[oaktree]

The FCC's job as "regulators" is not about AM & FM or TV. It's the entire audio and video spectrum including telephones, cellphones, and a lot more, right down to your microwave oven. If you want regulation, just "knowing" where the illegal transmitters are won't stop it.

Because in the scheme of things, illegal piracy of broadcast spectrum is an enforcement issue that is overwhelming with a small staff of field staff available. Everybody knows that.

But if it was really "enforcement" wanted, you could complain to your elected representatives on the federal level. Not once, not twice, but until you give them sufficient reason to at least respond and get the answers you demand.

You probably won't go that far. Or, go to your newspaper and tell them about the "the new radio" ... the pirates up and down the dial in your neighborhood. Nah, don't want to do that ... because that means your name in the paper. Don't need that hassle. And as for the guy in need of the replacement 5kw transmitter, who are you kidding? I bet you hook it up to your mom's dryer for voltage, too. And about that six bay Jampro hanging out your bedroom window at 20 feet. Yeah, that'll get out a ways ...