Pirate radio in North America
Encyclopedia
The strict definition of a pirate radio
station is a station that operates from sovereign territory without a broadcasting license, or just beyond the territorial waters
of a sovereign nation from on board a ship or other marine structure with the intention of broadcasting to that nation without obtaining a broadcasting license from that nation (such as Radio Caroline
before its present incarnation).
, have attempted various offshore radio broadcasts to Cuba, from time to time. These stations are mainly short lived and sporadic in transmission times, but because their broadcasts are not licensed by any nation, their signals are considered to be from pirate radio stations and the USA has taken various physical and legal steps to close them down at different times.
, the voice of the Zapatista
movement, operated from 2003 to 2009. The station was unlicensed, but according to the San Andres Accords
, the indigenous communities targeted by Radio Insurgente had the right to broadcast their own contet. The most recent example of a true pirate radio station in Mexico is La Tremenda 106.5
in Nuevo Laredo
, Tamaulipas
. It broadcast international contemporary music and news in Spanish and English. It used the fictitious U.S. callsign "KLPR" on its logo. The station began operations in May 2006, was shutdown in June 2008 by the federal police
in a "violent" take over. It was suspected that the signal was also used for transmitting messages of members of organized crime. The station is back on the air. There are several other pirate stations in Nuevo Laredo as well.
The border-blaster or other border stations in Mexico do not meet either definition of pirate radio station.
, became known to the general public as border-blasters. This was due to their excessive use of power which was necessary to reach their intended audience in American cities far north of the border. The traditional border-blasters were AM radio
stations; though there are numerous FM radio
and even television
stations along the border that broadcast to the U.S. from Mexico, the power of FM stations along the border is limited by a U.S.-Mexican agreement.
However, because these stations are licensed by the government of Mexico, they can only be classified as pirate radio stations in the same way that the British
government classified Radio Luxembourg
as a pirate radio station. Radio Luxembourg was a licensed station broadcasting with a power and on a frequency that the British authorities objected to, because the intended audience for its programs were located within the United Kingdom
. The objection by the government of the United Kingdom
to commercial broadcasts from Luxembourg, France and other countries, was primarily based upon its protection of the non-commercial BBC Radio
monopoly. Also, the UK at the time required a license for radios, which was limited to UK stations; it still requires a license for television
sets. However, the U.S. has never required a license to listen to broadcast radio or TV; today, it even issues routine licenses under the Brinkley Act
, originally enacted to silence the border-blaster charlatan
John R. Brinkley
, for the operation of Mexican stations from studio facilities in the U.S.
that is reserved for use by governmental, public or commercial licensees by the Federal Communications Commission
. This includes the FM
, AM
and shortwave radio bands.
Compared to authoritarian systems of government which restrict access to the means of communication, the airwaves of the USA are relatively free from direct government censorship
. As a result of this difference, the term pirate radio has a different interpretation than in countries where access to communication is limited.
In the USA pirate radio is frequently, but not always, associated with anarchism
which considers governmental spectrum regulatory schemes as favoring the interests of large corporation
s, due to reasons such as high licensing costs. Therefore, some anarchists consider pirate radio transmissions to be a challenge to that authority.
Pirate radio is also in large part the resulting backlash from Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) regulations restricting low-power broadcasting
, although this is how nearly all college radio stations began. NPR
and the NAB
convinced the FCC to eliminate the class D license in 1979. This kept all new low-power stations from getting a license, and bumped all of the old ones down to secondary status, forcing many more off the air since then. Despite this, an explosion of broadcast translators on FM, technically-identical but rebroadcasting other stations, most part of religious broadcasting networks, has occurred since then. This further fueled pirate operators in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1982, an organization of pirate radio monitoring enthusiasts was formed by Darren Leno. Known as the Association of Clandestine Radio Enthusiasts (ACE) the organization was and remains a very popular conduit for sharing information about North American pirate radio and other unusual radio transmissions.
Another such group, calling itself "The RPMRADIO Network" launched a series of projects aimed directly at the corporate radio media in central Texas. Responding to FCC raids of several pirate FM stations in the San Antonio-Austin area, RPMRADIO started by gathering grass roots support, then turned on 10 pirate fm radio stations across the entire area, with the promise to replace each station raided with 10 more stations. Fueled by remarks made by Alex Jones on his radio talk show, this "Ten for One" campaign is reported to have caused the FCC to rethink its approach to the fight that was developing between Pro-Corporate radio and Anti-Corporate radio forces.
Because of this severe lack of access, numerous pirate radio operators (such as Stephen Dunifer
), as well as other groups petitioned the FCC for a new LPFM service. After many years of trying, this finally was passed around 2000, although it blocked former pirate operators from holding licenses. Lobbied by the commercial radio industry, the U.S. Congress intervened and limited the new service even further, though technical tests later proved this to be baseless, and the added restrictions were lifted.
Although this should mean that pirate radio has seen a decrease, most of the licensees are churches
, college
s, and state or local government transportation departments, as the FCC requires the licensee to be a non-profit organization
. Pirate radio also continues because legal open spots on the FM dial have been filled in since and because of the 1979 ruling, by both full-power and translator stations.
Part 15 of the FCC rules allows the use of spectrum without a license but emissions pursuant to this rule are not practical for broadcasting due to extremely restrictive power levels which limit range (range varies depending on frequency spectrum). Part 15 is intended to allow for operation of a broad range of electrical devices that emit radio energy either as an intended element of their operation (e.g. garage door openers, FM modulators for iPod auto use) or as a by-product of their operation. Despite the limited range possible under Part 15, some small broadcast stations are operated within its parameters, while others operate claiming to be Part 15 compliant but with signals exceeding what is permitted under the rule.
Because basic radio transmission equipment is relatively easy to obtain in the USA and because it is relatively easy to hide, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), which has the authority
to regulate radio communications, sometimes has difficulty in finding and prosecuting offenders who transmit without a license. Triangulation
may be used, but most frequently a spectrum analyzer
is driven around the affected area, with a person monitoring where the suspect signal is highest, and another one looking for any obvious signs such as an antenna
or small tower (like that used for amateur radio
).
Pirate radio stations on FM are often found towards the bottom of the FM broadcasting band, particularly between 87.9 MHz and 91.9 MHz, which is allocated to non-commercial educational, public and religious broadcasters. On mediumwave (AM), pirate radio stations are often found between 1610 kHz and 1710 kHz. On shortwave (SW), the most common frequencies to check for pirates in North America is the 6800 to 7000 kHz (42.86 metres-44.11 metres) range, with 6855 (43.76 m), 6875 (43.64 m), 6925 (43.32 m), 6950 (43.16 m) and 6955 kHz (43.13 m) being most commonly used, and 6925 kHz being by far the most commonly used frequency. Pirates can pop up anytime, but evenings and weekends are the best time to listen. Pirates operating on shortwave from North America often use single sideband modulation as an alternative to AM.
There are a wide variety of stations. Some just play music; others, like The Crystal Ship and Radio Free Speech are political; KIPM produces its own science-fiction programming with radio plays reminiscent of old-time radio; WHYP is the James Brownyard memorial station, playing clips from an old PA daytime AM station of that same name. Radio One recreated the sound of 1960s top-40 radio and played oldies with an echo chamber reverb effect behind the announcer much like WABC had done. The Voice of the Sea Cucumber was known for some very strange programming, its announcer calling himself "Dear Leader." There are also many stations that are specifically aimed to the pirate radio listening community; many are long-running gag stations such as WBNY, the Voice of the Rodent Revolution, with programming by its leader Commander Bunny, who frequently sends coded messages to operatives in the field, as well as instructions to Al Fansome to check his tire pressure. There are also a few stations that mysteriously appear once a year, such as WJFK, which is usually on the air around November 22.
Geographically, FM and mediumwave
pirates tend to cluster in urban areas such as New York City, San Francisco, Toronto, and throughout Florida
. However, pirate stations are active throughout all regions of North America. Shortwave pirates are widely dispersed throughout North America and can be heard hundreds and even thousands of miles from their location. Most shortwave pirates operate on the East Coast of the USA.
Differing somewhat from the pirate radio stereotype of "kids playing radio," there has been a growing trend towards ethnocentric pirate radio in North America. Usually these stations broadcast in native languages such as Spanish
or Haitian Creole
, but sometimes English, as in the case of a widely heard mediumwave pirate with a Jewish Orthodox format. When listening for a pirate station, it pays to keep in mind that the announcers may not be speaking your language.
Pirate radio in Europe
can often be heard in North America with a good shortwave radio and antenna
. This is considered DXing
. The 6200 to 6300 kHz (47.62-48.38 m) range is most commonly used.
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station is a station that operates from sovereign territory without a broadcasting license, or just beyond the territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters, or a territorial sea, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a belt of coastal waters extending at most from the baseline of a coastal state...
of a sovereign nation from on board a ship or other marine structure with the intention of broadcasting to that nation without obtaining a broadcasting license from that nation (such as Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is an English radio station founded in 1964 by Ronan O'Rahilly to circumvent the record companies' control of popular music broadcasting in the United Kingdom and the BBC's radio broadcasting monopoly...
before its present incarnation).
Pirate radio by Cuban exiles
Unlike the sanctioned and fully licensed transmissions by the United States government, a number of groups in exile, mainly based in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, have attempted various offshore radio broadcasts to Cuba, from time to time. These stations are mainly short lived and sporadic in transmission times, but because their broadcasts are not licensed by any nation, their signals are considered to be from pirate radio stations and the USA has taken various physical and legal steps to close them down at different times.
Pirate radio in Mexico
There are a number of pirate radio stations in Mexico. Radio InsurgenteRadio Insurgente
Radio Insurgente is the official voice of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation .The radio station has been operating since August 2003 and it is independent from the Mexican government. Its broadcasting location is unknown. Radio Insurgente's content is focused on promoting the ideas and...
, the voice of the Zapatista
Zapatista Army of National Liberation
The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is a revolutionary leftist group based in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico....
movement, operated from 2003 to 2009. The station was unlicensed, but according to the San Andres Accords
San Andrés Accords
The San Andrés Accords are agreements reached between the Zapatista Army of National Liberation and the Mexican government, at that time headed by President Ernesto Zedillo. The accords were signed on February 16, 1996, in San Andrés Larráinzar, Chiapas, and granted autonomy, recognition, and...
, the indigenous communities targeted by Radio Insurgente had the right to broadcast their own contet. The most recent example of a true pirate radio station in Mexico is La Tremenda 106.5
La Tremenda 106.5
La Tremenda was an international contemporary music FM radio station that served the Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas and Laredo, Texas area of the Mexico – United States border. From May 2006 through June 2008 the radio station was broadcasting as a pirate FM radio station since it did not have a permit...
in Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
. It broadcast international contemporary music and news in Spanish and English. It used the fictitious U.S. callsign "KLPR" on its logo. The station began operations in May 2006, was shutdown in June 2008 by the federal police
Law enforcement in Mexico
Law enforcement in Mexico is divided between federal, state, and municipal entities. There are two federal police forces, 31 state police forces and one estimate suggests over 1,600 municipal police forces...
in a "violent" take over. It was suspected that the signal was also used for transmitting messages of members of organized crime. The station is back on the air. There are several other pirate stations in Nuevo Laredo as well.
The border-blaster or other border stations in Mexico do not meet either definition of pirate radio station.
Border blasters
From the earliest days of the history of broadcasting, a number of radio stations licensed in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, became known to the general public as border-blasters. This was due to their excessive use of power which was necessary to reach their intended audience in American cities far north of the border. The traditional border-blasters were AM radio
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
stations; though there are numerous FM radio
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
and even television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
stations along the border that broadcast to the U.S. from Mexico, the power of FM stations along the border is limited by a U.S.-Mexican agreement.
However, because these stations are licensed by the government of Mexico, they can only be classified as pirate radio stations in the same way that the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government classified Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
as a pirate radio station. Radio Luxembourg was a licensed station broadcasting with a power and on a frequency that the British authorities objected to, because the intended audience for its programs were located within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The objection by the government of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to commercial broadcasts from Luxembourg, France and other countries, was primarily based upon its protection of the non-commercial BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
monopoly. Also, the UK at the time required a license for radios, which was limited to UK stations; it still requires a license for television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sets. However, the U.S. has never required a license to listen to broadcast radio or TV; today, it even issues routine licenses under the Brinkley Act
Brinkley Act
The Brinkley Act is the popular name given to . This provision was enacted by the United States Congress to prohibit broadcasting studios in the U.S. from being connected by live telephone line or other means to a transmitter located in Mexico.Prior to World War II, Dr. John R...
, originally enacted to silence the border-blaster charlatan
Charlatan
A charlatan is a person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, fame or other advantages via some form of pretense or deception....
John R. Brinkley
John R. Brinkley
John Romulus Brinkley was a controversial American medical doctor who experimented with xenotransplantation of goat glands into humans as a means of curing male impotence in clinics across several states, and an advertising and radio pioneer who began the era of Mexican border blaster radio...
, for the operation of Mexican stations from studio facilities in the U.S.
Land-based unlicensed broadcasts
In the United States, the term pirate radio implies the unlicensed broadcasting use of any part of the radio spectrumRadio spectrum
Radio spectrum refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to radio frequencies – that is, frequencies lower than around 300 GHz ....
that is reserved for use by governmental, public or commercial licensees by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
. This includes the FM
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
, AM
Amplitude modulation
Amplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
and shortwave radio bands.
Compared to authoritarian systems of government which restrict access to the means of communication, the airwaves of the USA are relatively free from direct government censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
. As a result of this difference, the term pirate radio has a different interpretation than in countries where access to communication is limited.
In the USA pirate radio is frequently, but not always, associated with anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
which considers governmental spectrum regulatory schemes as favoring the interests of large corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s, due to reasons such as high licensing costs. Therefore, some anarchists consider pirate radio transmissions to be a challenge to that authority.
Pirate radio is also in large part the resulting backlash from Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) regulations restricting low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
, although this is how nearly all college radio stations began. NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and the NAB
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
convinced the FCC to eliminate the class D license in 1979. This kept all new low-power stations from getting a license, and bumped all of the old ones down to secondary status, forcing many more off the air since then. Despite this, an explosion of broadcast translators on FM, technically-identical but rebroadcasting other stations, most part of religious broadcasting networks, has occurred since then. This further fueled pirate operators in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1982, an organization of pirate radio monitoring enthusiasts was formed by Darren Leno. Known as the Association of Clandestine Radio Enthusiasts (ACE) the organization was and remains a very popular conduit for sharing information about North American pirate radio and other unusual radio transmissions.
Another such group, calling itself "The RPMRADIO Network" launched a series of projects aimed directly at the corporate radio media in central Texas. Responding to FCC raids of several pirate FM stations in the San Antonio-Austin area, RPMRADIO started by gathering grass roots support, then turned on 10 pirate fm radio stations across the entire area, with the promise to replace each station raided with 10 more stations. Fueled by remarks made by Alex Jones on his radio talk show, this "Ten for One" campaign is reported to have caused the FCC to rethink its approach to the fight that was developing between Pro-Corporate radio and Anti-Corporate radio forces.
Because of this severe lack of access, numerous pirate radio operators (such as Stephen Dunifer
Stephen Dunifer
Stephen Dunifer is the founder of Free Radio Berkeley in Berkeley, California. Free Radio Berkeley, an unlicensed micropower pirate radio station, was involved in a protracted legal case with the Federal Communications Commission in the mid-1990s They were eventually acquitted of all charges,...
), as well as other groups petitioned the FCC for a new LPFM service. After many years of trying, this finally was passed around 2000, although it blocked former pirate operators from holding licenses. Lobbied by the commercial radio industry, the U.S. Congress intervened and limited the new service even further, though technical tests later proved this to be baseless, and the added restrictions were lifted.
Although this should mean that pirate radio has seen a decrease, most of the licensees are churches
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
, college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s, and state or local government transportation departments, as the FCC requires the licensee to be a non-profit organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
. Pirate radio also continues because legal open spots on the FM dial have been filled in since and because of the 1979 ruling, by both full-power and translator stations.
Part 15 of the FCC rules allows the use of spectrum without a license but emissions pursuant to this rule are not practical for broadcasting due to extremely restrictive power levels which limit range (range varies depending on frequency spectrum). Part 15 is intended to allow for operation of a broad range of electrical devices that emit radio energy either as an intended element of their operation (e.g. garage door openers, FM modulators for iPod auto use) or as a by-product of their operation. Despite the limited range possible under Part 15, some small broadcast stations are operated within its parameters, while others operate claiming to be Part 15 compliant but with signals exceeding what is permitted under the rule.
Because basic radio transmission equipment is relatively easy to obtain in the USA and because it is relatively easy to hide, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC), which has the authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
to regulate radio communications, sometimes has difficulty in finding and prosecuting offenders who transmit without a license. Triangulation
Triangulation
In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than measuring distances to the point directly...
may be used, but most frequently a spectrum analyzer
Spectrum analyzer
A spectrum analyzer measures the magnitude of an input signal versus frequency within the full frequency range of the instrument. The primary use is to measure the power of the spectrum of known and unknown signals...
is driven around the affected area, with a person monitoring where the suspect signal is highest, and another one looking for any obvious signs such as an antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
or small tower (like that used for amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
).
Hearing pirate radio stations in North America
Finding, identifying and even corresponding with pirate radio stations is, for many radio enthusiasts, itself a hobby. Most radio listeners in North America, however, will never hear a pirate station unless they seek one out.Pirate radio stations on FM are often found towards the bottom of the FM broadcasting band, particularly between 87.9 MHz and 91.9 MHz, which is allocated to non-commercial educational, public and religious broadcasters. On mediumwave (AM), pirate radio stations are often found between 1610 kHz and 1710 kHz. On shortwave (SW), the most common frequencies to check for pirates in North America is the 6800 to 7000 kHz (42.86 metres-44.11 metres) range, with 6855 (43.76 m), 6875 (43.64 m), 6925 (43.32 m), 6950 (43.16 m) and 6955 kHz (43.13 m) being most commonly used, and 6925 kHz being by far the most commonly used frequency. Pirates can pop up anytime, but evenings and weekends are the best time to listen. Pirates operating on shortwave from North America often use single sideband modulation as an alternative to AM.
There are a wide variety of stations. Some just play music; others, like The Crystal Ship and Radio Free Speech are political; KIPM produces its own science-fiction programming with radio plays reminiscent of old-time radio; WHYP is the James Brownyard memorial station, playing clips from an old PA daytime AM station of that same name. Radio One recreated the sound of 1960s top-40 radio and played oldies with an echo chamber reverb effect behind the announcer much like WABC had done. The Voice of the Sea Cucumber was known for some very strange programming, its announcer calling himself "Dear Leader." There are also many stations that are specifically aimed to the pirate radio listening community; many are long-running gag stations such as WBNY, the Voice of the Rodent Revolution, with programming by its leader Commander Bunny, who frequently sends coded messages to operatives in the field, as well as instructions to Al Fansome to check his tire pressure. There are also a few stations that mysteriously appear once a year, such as WJFK, which is usually on the air around November 22.
Geographically, FM and mediumwave
Mediumwave
Medium wave is the part of the medium frequency radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting. For Europe the MW band ranges from 526.5 kHz to 1606.5 kHz...
pirates tend to cluster in urban areas such as New York City, San Francisco, Toronto, and throughout Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. However, pirate stations are active throughout all regions of North America. Shortwave pirates are widely dispersed throughout North America and can be heard hundreds and even thousands of miles from their location. Most shortwave pirates operate on the East Coast of the USA.
Differing somewhat from the pirate radio stereotype of "kids playing radio," there has been a growing trend towards ethnocentric pirate radio in North America. Usually these stations broadcast in native languages such as Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
or Haitian Creole
Creole language
A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages; creoles differ from pidgins in that they have been nativized by children as their primary language, making them have features of natural languages that are normally missing from...
, but sometimes English, as in the case of a widely heard mediumwave pirate with a Jewish Orthodox format. When listening for a pirate station, it pays to keep in mind that the announcers may not be speaking your language.
Pirate radio in Europe
Pirate radio in Europe
An introduction to the subject of pirate radio can be found under that heading.- Belgium :*1962*1964*1973*1974*1978- Denmark :*1958*1961*1962*2006- Finland :...
can often be heard in North America with a good shortwave radio and antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
. This is considered DXing
DXing
DXing is the hobby of tuning in and identifying distant radio or television signals, or making two way radio contact with distant stations in amateur radio, citizens' band radio or other two way radio communications. Many DXers also attempt to receive written verifications of reception from the...
. The 6200 to 6300 kHz (47.62-48.38 m) range is most commonly used.
Partial list of pirate radio stations in the United States
- Big City 101.3 in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts, broadcasts hip hop and rhythmic CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
. - Hot 97 Boston 87.7 in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts, broadcasts Urban AC. - Touch FM 106.1 in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts, broadcasts as a Community pirate radio station in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
thats also plays Reggae, Urban AC, and R&B. - Radio 1 Boston 98.9 in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts, broadcasts Haitian-French Caribbean Music. - Choice FM-102.9 in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts, broadcasts Caribbean Music. - Other Haitian French Pirate Stations in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
are 88.5 Dorchester/88.5 Boston, 90.1 FM Radio Energy, and an 107.1 Dorchester. - RFWS: Radio Free Western Springs broadcasts on 99.1FM on Friday Nights in Western Springs, IL as of October 1, 2010
- Haitian-language pirate stations broadcast from the Brockton, Massachusetts area on 94.9 and 96.5 FM and 89.3 from Randolph, MA.
- Grosse Pointe AM Radio operates on Saturday nights out of Grosse Pointe Michigan on 970 kHz and features mostly classical and big band music. This station also runs a remote link from Grosse Pointe Gardens (dance hall?). Good signal outside Grosse Pointe. Now off-air and hasn't been heard since late 2007.
- FRSC: Free Radio Santa CruzFree Radio Santa CruzFree Radio Santa Cruz is an unlicensed radio station in Santa Cruz, California, USA. The station has been on the air since Spring, 1995; its broadcast content is a mix of daily news, music, and cultural programs, produced both locally and nationally...
(1995–2010) - Pirate Cat Radio 87.9 FM San Francisco and simultaneously in Los Angeles, also has a TV station, Pirate Cat TV, on channel 13 in San Francisco. First station to use Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 Section 73.3542 to broadcast legally. The FCC since shut them down and fined them $10,000. They are currently broadcasting online and raising money to apply for a license to get back on the air. Due to illegal activities being carried out by the previous owner Pirate Cat Radio has been re-established as Mutiny Radio as of June, 1st, 2011.
- FRSD: Free Radio San DiegoFree Radio San DiegoFree Radio San Diego was an unlicensed radio station located in San Diego, California. The founders claim that its creation was a reaction to Federal Communications Commission restrictions on new radio licenses. They provided a commercial-free unlicensed broadcast beginning on October 13, 2002...
(on-air since 2002) - FRO 98.5 Free Radio Olympia They have been on the air since March 2001 in Olympia, Washington. The broadcast is also streamed through the Internet.
- KBLT: Los Angeles (on-air in the 1990s)
- San Francisco Liberation Radio 93.7 FM (started in 1993, ceased operation in October 2003 after raid by FCC & SFPD)
- Beat RadioBeat RadioBeat Radio originally was an unlicensed radio station in Minneapolis, Minnesota that played dance music. Founded by local radio DJ and programmer, Alan Freed, in 1996, the station served downtown Minneapolis and surrounding neighborhoods and reached into the western, northwestern and southwestern...
97.7 FM Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
(1996) - T-FM: 90.7 & 105.1 in Nashville, TN. (From 1999-2001, a controversial and sometimes subversive program called Pirate Radio aired Friday nights from midnight to 1 AM. The live show featured music, on-air personalities, pre-recorded sketch comedy, and uncensored call-ins. The parent station, WNAZ eventually canceled it due to production staff changes and questionable content. 78 complaints were filed with the FCC during Pirate Radio's 2-year run.)
- Lake Shore Radio operated out of St Clair Shores, Michigan and first appeared around the winter of 1997 into 1998. Transmitted on 94.3, later on 89.1. Would sign on within a minute of WPHS signing off at 89.1. Played mostly one hit wonder rock top 40 and local garage/bar scene bands. Sometimes played bizarre sound effects for hours. Other times the station would simulcast SW pirates either live or recorded. Station would run several hours to all night. Station could be reliably heard up to 20 miles away in stereo. Signal and sound quality were of commercial standard. Disappeared in the early summer of 1998 and was never heard again. Station had a following especially with the local rock and jock crowd. Station also had a WEB page for a short time but little info was supplied on this page. Claimed to have a 300-watt commercial-grade transmitter.
- The Womb was a South Miami Beach Florida radio station in the late 1990s. Dubbed the "Creation Station", The Womb featured DJ's from each of Miami Beach's then famous nightclubs. Broadcasting 24 hours per day, the 100 watt radio station was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine in 1997 for it concurrent web based streaming, which was built into the Real Audio G2 player. Shut down by the FCC, The Womb continues on the internet today.
- Florida Low Power Radio Stations - constantly updated list of unlicensed (though not necessarily pirate) radio signals heard throughout Florida.
- Power Hits 103.3 FM (on-air April to November 2006) Available in the Quad CitiesQuad CitiesThe Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
metropolitan area, this station had been a controversy due to the interpretation of Code of Federal Regulations Title 47 Section 73.3542 saying you can broadcast without a license during time of emergency. The regulation states that a war is considered a "time of emergency." The station's online stream was on its MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. Most of the music played on the station fell under a CHRContemporary hit radioContemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
or Top 40 format with some occasional 80s and 90s1990s in musicFor music from a year in the 1990s, go to 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99This article includes trends in popular music in the 1990s....
hits. The station also occasionally aired commercials for a local HondaHondais a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
dealership and a night club. A rental dispute caused a change in operation (from the station founders to their landlords, as the landlords seized Power Hits' equipment and rental space for their own to pay off back rent), which eventually led to the station going off the air. - 103.3 Radio Limbo in Tucson, Arizona, uses a mobile transmitter to avoid detection, sometimes broadcasting at night in the valley area.
- KBFR (pirate radio)KBFR (pirate radio)KBFR is a pirate radio station also known as Boulder Free Radio, based in Boulder, Colorado.Boulder Free Radio is unrelated to KBFR, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission in Bismarck, North Dakota, broadcasting American Family Radio, a Christian radio network.-History:Boulder Free...
Boulder Free Radio (KBFR) 95.3FM. Highly active from 2000 to 2005 (24/7 operations); now on air sporadically from a location near downtown Boulder and from mobile units. - 90.5 WINO FM Napa, California. This radio station was active for a short time in 1997. It was broadcast out of a repair shop, and the signal had a radius of about 2 miles. It lasted about six months, and was shut down by the FCC after KVYN FM / KVON AM Napa filed a formal complaint because while the station operator was out of town his equipment overmodulated and drifted into their signal. The station had a huge following, and stickers proclaiming Napa as "wino country" can still be seen on cars around town in 2006.
- DZ NuTTs Radio / Free Radio Vallejo, Ca 91.3FM - Broadcasting on 91.3 FM since December 1996. Staying true to the Vallejo, Bay Area Rap scene. Also collaborated with Free Radio Berkeley (Stephen Dunifer), HipHopSlam. Publications featured in: XXL Magazine, URB, Murder Dog, BAM, and other local industry related publications. Visited by the FCC three times for "Listener Stealing" but never fined.
- RPMRADIO Central Studio" in San Antonio, Texas operated on 97.7FM, broadcasting uncensored rock and roll for over five years. Using publicity stunts and public demonstrations at large music concerts to gain supporters, The RPMRADIO Network brought the first pirate radio broadcasts to an area that was considered "the garden of eden" of radio markets, and caused a minor revolution in the programing practices of radio broadcasters in that area. When they finally received their first notice to quit from the FCC, the station operators went underground, and continue to operate several "Low Power Pirate FM Stations" throughout the area. During this time, the local corporate media outlets, including all the TV stations, newspapers, and radio stations, maintained a total news blackout as to the existence of this group of pirate radio stations.
- Radio CPR Washington, DC Station concerned with negative impacts of welfare and immigration reform legislation in the 1990s on those communities, plays LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, punk rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, underground hip-hop, and world music. - Wicked Radio (Edgerton and Door County simulcast on Shoutcast)
- LUNk Radio (Lincoln, NE)
- Radio Free Canton on air since 2000
- Free Radio Folsom (CA)
- The Radio, broadcast on 100.5 FM in Ticonderoga, New York from August 2004 to November 2005. It is possible that operations may resume soon on the same frequency with the same name, and a slightly tweaked format.
- Lewis FM, broadcast a mix of predominately American and British Top 40, as well as Christian Rock to a section of Lewis, New York, which has a total population of approximately 1,200 people. Lewis FM used a Ramsey FM-30 transmitter. Operations ceased in January 2007 after seven months of broadcasting. Regular operations are set to resume in Willsboro, New York, either under an entirely different name or using "The Radio" branding.
- http://www.wickedradio.org one of the oldest pirate radio stations located in Edgerton, WI, which ceased FM transmission on May 13, 2009 at midnight, albeit still streaming online.
- Berkeley Liberation Radio works to facilitate ordinary non-commercial community access to the airwaves for the purpose of political discourse as well as cultural enhancement. BLR has been broadcasting on 104.1 fm since 1999 and serves Berkeley and Oakland, California. Since 2007, the broadcast has been streamed through the internet.
- 91X, WLGX-FM, La Grange, IL (1997–1999). Ran a continuous 24/7 operation on 90.5 FM at 250 watts from a basement in a house near downtown La Grange. The station played a mix of alternative and hip hop. Ran special formats for various holidays. Live DJs, morning show and strong community following. Ceased operations in 1999 after the operator graduated high school and went to college. Broadcast again briefly during the summer of 2000 and heard once again in June 2003 for a "91X reunion weekend" but not heard since.
- KFAR, Knoxville (Tennessee's) First Amendment Radio. 90.9 FM. Varied formats, music, hip hop, progressive programming; a uniquely cooperative venture, with DJ's contributing towards expenses to broadcast. Operated briefly as CROK (Community Radio of Knoxville) before being shut down by an FCC raid September 2004. An effort was made to operate as a network of ultra-low power transmitters with internet feed, but languished for lack of sufficient interest. Archived website, 2001
- WNRC shows up at National Radio Club conventions over Labor Day, and has operates on different an AM or FM frequencies at each convention. It also has conducted "tests" on 1580, 1610, and 1710 during the winter with sweep tones and Morse code ID.
- Radio Iowa City, successor to Iowa City's previous pirate FM stations.
- WoDD FM - Toms River, New Jersey, which operated from 1989 till 1992 on various frequencies, usually over existing commercial stations, such as WXRK (92.3 FM) and WPAT (93.1 FM). WoDD finally settled in late 1991 on 95.3 FM, which was established as an "open channel" via its own engineering survey. Pirate Pat was the owner operator of WoDD and the station format was a range of classic rock, alternative and metal. Comedy "bits", live phone calls, live bands and political commentary were key components of the of WoDD's weekly broadcast. Highlights included live phone calls from jails, live calls to senators, congressmen, the FCC and the White House.
- 104.7 FM / Black DisciplesBlack DisciplesThe Black Disciples is a large African American street gang based in Chicago, Illinois. The gang is considered extremely violent and is known to engage in drug trafficking and distribution, in addition to other criminal activities. The street gang is estimated to have in excess of 24,000 members...
street gang - A commercial-free hip hop station that operated on the south side of ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 2003 and 2004. The station was shut down on May 13, 2004 by FBI agents and the Chicago police as part of a crackdown on the Black DisciplesBlack DisciplesThe Black Disciples is a large African American street gang based in Chicago, Illinois. The gang is considered extremely violent and is known to engage in drug trafficking and distribution, in addition to other criminal activities. The street gang is estimated to have in excess of 24,000 members...
street gang, which was operating the station to broadcast warnings of police activity. - 90.5 FM - East Chicago, IndianaEast Chicago, IndianaEast Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at ....
, which operated in 2006, airing uncensored gangsta rap music. - KXPX 101.5 Rock Variety Radio - A commercial-free Mesquite, TexasMesquite, TexasMesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
pirate radio station which has been operating in north Mesquite across a 7-10 mile radius on and off since mid 2009. Most of the music played is often 2000s active rock, alternative, metal, indie, pop and rarely rap scattered in one playlist. They normally play music back to back sometimes with the station ID but, occasionally the station will occupy a DJ usually on the weekends. The station is also known for having on air glitches from time to time. The station sometimes moves frequencies to 99.9 or 92.9 but, is almost always on 101.5. - 2000 Flushes Pirate Radio, broadcasting from the Twin Cities in the early 1990s. Its name was inspired by a brand of in-tank toilet-bowl cleaner as was widely advertised @ the time.
- WJDI 1620WJDIWJDI is a pirate radio station. It was located in Kingston, New York from 1989 to 1996. It was one of the more successful pirate stations during the 1980s.-History:...
, broadcasting from Kingston, New YorkKingston, New YorkKingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
since January 1, 1989. This was one of the more successful pirate stations during the 1980s. It remained on until final close-down on Christmas 1996. During its test broadcast, the announcer says they are "broadcasting with 1,000 clear watts".
Stations from international waters
- 1933
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- RXKR, aboard the SS City of Panama anchored off CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
- RXKR, aboard the SS City of Panama anchored off California
- 1973
-
- Radio Free America, a brief religious station by Dr. Carl McIntireCarl McIntireCarl McIntire was a founder of, and minister in, the Bible Presbyterian Church, founder and long president of the and the American Council of Christian Churches, and a popular religious radio broadcaster, who proudly identified himself as a fundamentalist.-Youth and education:Born in Ypsilanti,...
aboard the MV Columbus anchored off New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, USA.
- Radio Free America, a brief religious station by Dr. Carl McIntire
- 1987 & 1988
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- Radio Newyork InternationalRadio Newyork InternationalRadio Newyork International was the name of a pirate radio station which broadcast from a ship anchored in international waters off Jones Beach, New York, USA in 1987 and 1988...
, from a ship anchored off Jones BeachJones BeachJones Beach may refer to:* A barrier island off the coast of Long Island, New York:**Jones Beach State Park in Nassau County, New York in the United States**Jones Beach Island**Nikon at Jones Beach Theater...
, Long IslandLong IslandLong Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA.
- Radio Newyork International