Voice of America
10 Oct 98

Excerpts from "Communications World" report by Voice of America

   Here in Washington, a group of about 50 pirate radio broadcasters and
their supporters marched on Monday [5th October] on the Federal
Communications Commission [FCC] and the National Association of
Broadcasters [NAB] in Washington. The pirate broadcasters - who refer to
themselves as free radio stations - claim that they provide diversity,
especially as commercial radio stations are grouped under larger and
larger conglomerates. Commercial radio stations, represented by the NAB,
say that pirate stations cause interference.
   During the march, the demonstrators operated a small FM transmitter,
located in a backpack, on 97.5 MHz. At the NAB headquarters, they took
down the NAB flag and hoisted the Jolly Roger in its place.
   After [sic] the March, the Washington-based Freedom Forum invited radio
pirates and other experts for a seminar on the subject...
   Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission is continuing its
nationwide crackdown on pirate FM broadcasters. On 23rd September, it
seized the equipment of Free Radio Memphis which operated on 94.7 MHz in
Memphis, Tennessee. This week, the FCC shut down a pirate broadcaster
operating on four different FM frequencies in Sacramento, California. In
this case, the FCC said the station was interfering with aircraft traffic
control communications.