Communications Daily, October 6, 1998

Headline: PIRATE RADIO DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED

Washington, D.C., police arrested 2 pirate radio demonstrators, one of
them juvenile, Mon. in front on NAB hq. About 75 protestors walked with
police escort to NAB from FCC hq several blocks away, shouting slogans
along way. Demonstrators pulled monster-like float decorated with
broadcast networks' logos labeled with slogan, "NAB pulls the FCC's puppet
strings." That piece was connected by ropes to large Pinocchio
representing FCC Chmn. Kennard. There were assorted other signs, printed
in black-on-yellow reminiscent of ABC promotions, with slogans such as
"free our airwaves."
      Once at NAB, protesters crowded around door to building shouting
slogans, before moving back few feet at police direction. At one point,
NAB's flag with Assn. logo was taken down from pole in front of building
and skull-and-crossbones, representing pirate radio, was raised in its
place. NAB officials at first wanted flag returned, but march coordinators
weren't able to find it.  Boni Ramey of Gainesville, Fla., juvenile, with
Radio Free Gainesville, was arrested after someone told police she had
possession of flag. She didn't, and was released after being processed
through juvenile facility.  Phil Jodry of Spring Valley, N.Y., another
demonstrator, was arrested for failure to comply with police orders and
was due to be released after $100 fine was paid, march organizers said.
Jodry said he was arrested for telling others that Ramey was under arrest.
NAB didn't press charges for theft of its flag, spokesman Dennis Wharton
said. Demonstration broke up after about 45 min., with protesters
promising to return.
       There seemed to be recognition by some of marchers that Kennard,
while cracking down on pirate radio, is on their side philosophically
because he favors microradio concept opposed by NAB. Alan Korn, San
Francisco attorney who filed comments in Commission's inquiry into
microradio said as he marched along N St. that he realizes Kennard's
position but believes FCC chmn. is "most visible" public official in
debate. Korn said that Kennard is trying to please many interest groups,
including broadcasters and "the microdiversity movement," and
demonstration was effort to make sure pirates are "known as a
constituency."
      Before downtown demonstrations, Freedom Forum hosted panel in
      suburban
Va. with 3 current and former unlicensed radio broadcasters before small
audience (about 60) of mostly current and former pirate broadcasters.
Moderator Paul McMasters of Freedom Forum said that FCC and NAB were
invited to participate on panel but both declined.
      Diane Fleming of Radio Mutiny Philadelphia (which was shut down in
June by FCC) called Commission and NAB "chicken-hearted" (for not
appearing on panel) and said Radio Mutiny "gave a voice to the community"
on such issues as fighting drugs and "we definitely didn't go out with a
whimper." David Leder of KIND Radio (45 watts) San Marcos, Tex., said
station has "an amazing variety of programming," including lot of
politics. "People come in and do whatever they want to do."  Station has
been issued cease-and-desist order by FCC but still is operating, he said.
Jerry Szoka said he put Grid Radio (60 watts, 96.9 MHz) Cleveland on air
18 months ago after several years of working in college radio.  He said
that station cost $3,000 and "it comes out of my pocket," and that he has
received "hundreds and hundreds of [favorable] responses" to all-music
format (except for his commentary Sun. afternoons).  Szoka said he favors
development of "some sort of regulatory scheme" for microradio and Fleming
said govt.'s "denial of community voices amounts to racism."  From
audience, participant in former Radio Mutiny shouted that station "was
stolen by the federal government... How come our stations can be outright
confiscated?"

[JW comments: The "small audience" at the Freedom Forum was of
above-average size, officials there told me, and pretty much filled the
room. Furthermore, the forum was webcast and will soon be broadcast on
legal radio. A majority of the attendees were *not* current or former
pirate broadcasters.]