{"id":11800,"date":"2025-02-18T05:53:03","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T05:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disruptarian.com\/blog\/what-is-the-duration-of-pirate-radio-usa\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T05:53:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T05:53:03","slug":"what-is-the-duration-of-pirate-radio-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disruptarian.com\/blog\/what-is-the-duration-of-pirate-radio-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Duration Of Pirate Radio USA"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the United States, the term\u00a0pirate radio<\/i>\u00a0implies the unlicensed broadcasting use of any part of the\u00a0radio spectrum\r\n \r\n <\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0that is reserved for use by governmental, public or commercial licensees by the\u00a0Federal Communications Commission<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>. This includes the\u00a0FM<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0AM<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0shortwave radio<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0bands.<\/p>\n

Compared to\u00a0authoritarian<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0systems of government which restrict access to the means of communication, the airwaves of the USA are relatively free from direct government\u00a0censorship<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>.[citation needed<\/span><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/i>]<\/sup>\u00a0As a result of this difference, the term\u00a0pirate radio<\/i>\u00a0has a different interpretation than in countries where access to communication is limited.<\/p>\n

In the United States, pirate radio is frequently, but not always, associated with\u00a0anarchism<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, which considers governmental spectrum regulatory schemes as favoring the interests of large\u00a0corporations<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, due to reasons such as high licensing costs. Therefore, some anarchists consider pirate radio transmissions to be a challenge to that authority.<\/p>\n

Pirate radio is also in large part the resulting backlash from\u00a0Federal Communications Commission<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>‘s\u00a0Title 47 CFR Part 15<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, which prohibits certain power broadcasting.\u00a0NPR<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0NAB<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0convinced the FCC to eliminate the\u00a0class D<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0license 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\u00a0broadcast translators<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0on 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.<\/p>\n

In 1982, an organization of pirate radio monitoring enthusiasts was formed by\u00a0Darren Leno<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>. Known as the\u00a0Association of Clandestine Radio Enthusiasts<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0(ACE) the organization was and remains a very popular conduit for sharing information about North American pirate radio and other unusual radio transmissions.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Because of this severe lack of access, numerous pirate radio operators (such as\u00a0Stephen Dunifer<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>), as well as other groups petitioned the FCC for a new\u00a0LPFM<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0service. 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\u00a0U.S. Congress<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0intervened and limited the new service even further, though technical tests later proved this to be baseless, and the added restrictions were lifted.<\/p>\n

Although this should mean that pirate radio has seen a decrease, most of the licensees are\u00a0churches<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0colleges<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, and state or local government\u00a0transportation<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0departments, as the FCC requires the licensee to be a\u00a0non-profit<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0organization<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>. Pirate radio<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Part 15<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0of 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.<\/p>\n

Because basic radio transmission equipment is relatively easy to obtain in the US and because it is relatively easy to hide, the\u00a0Federal Communications Commission<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0(FCC), which has the\u00a0authority<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to regulate radio communications, sometimes has difficulty in finding and prosecuting offenders who transmit without a license.\u00a0Triangulation<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0may be used, but most frequently a\u00a0spectrum analyzer<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0is 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\u00a0antenna<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0or small tower (like that used for\u00a0amateur radio<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\n

Hearing pirate radio stations in North America<\/span>[<\/span>edit<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Pirate radio stations on FM are often found towards the bottom of the FM broadcasting band, particularly between 87.9\u00a0MHz and 91.9\u00a0MHz, which is allocated to non-commercial educational, public and religious broadcasters. On mediumwave (AM), pirate radio stations are often found between 1610\u00a0kHz and 1710\u00a0kHz with the later frequency 1710 being far the most popular. On shortwave (SW), the most common frequencies to check for pirates in North America is the 6.8 to 7\u00a0MHz (42.86 metres-44.11 metres) range, with 6.855\u00a0MHz (43.76 m), 6.875\u00a0MHz (43.64 m), 6.925\u00a0MHz (43.32 m), 6.95\u00a0MHz (43.16 m) and 6.955\u00a0MHz (43.13 m) being most commonly used, and 6.925\u00a0MHz being by far the most commonly used frequency. Some stations will use “offset” or “split” frequencies, such as 6.876\u00a0MHz, 6.923\u00a0MHz, 6.962\u00a0MHz and 6.969\u00a0MHz, either to avoid interference from other stations or as part of the “image” of their particular station. Pirates can pop up anytime, but evenings, weekends and holidays are the best time to listen. Pirates operating on shortwave from North America often use\u00a0single sideband<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0modulation as an alternative to AM.<\/p>\n

There are a wide variety of stations. Some just play music; others, like The Crystal Ship and Radio Free Speech are political\u00a0; 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 Pennsylvania 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. A few stations mysteriously appear once a year, such as WJFK, which is usually on the air around November 22. There are also stations that provide eclectic music programming, such as Wolverine Radio, WMPR, Liquid Radio (Simulcast of its FM broadcast), and The Crystal Ship plays classic hits outside of political programming.<\/p>\n

Shortwave or HF pirate stations often coordinate their broadcasts to avoid interfering with each other. Pirate radio loggings are often reported on Internet forums, allowing potential listeners to know when a station is on the air.<\/p>\n

Geographically, FM and\u00a0mediumwave<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0pirates tend to cluster in urban areas such as New York City, San Francisco, Toronto, and throughout\u00a0Florida<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

Differing somewhat from the pirate radio stereotype of “kids playing radio,” there has been a growing trend towards\u00a0ethnocentric<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0pirate radio in North America. Usually these stations broadcast in native languages such as Spanish or\u00a0Haitian Creole<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, but sometimes English, as in the case of a widely heard mediumwave pirate with a\u00a0Jewish Orthodox<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0format.<\/p>\n

Pirate radio in Europe<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0can often be heard in North America with a good\u00a0shortwave radio<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0antenna<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>. This is considered\u00a0DXing<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>. The 6.2 to 6.3\u00a0MHz (47.62-48.38 m) range is most commonly used.<\/p>\n

\"RyanRyan Utah Pirate Radio<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/disruptarian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cropped-UPR-1024×600.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/disruptarian.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/cropped-UPR-1024×600.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1″ data-id=”1582″ data-link=”https:\/\/disruptarian.com\/radio-show\/utah-pirate-radio-tuesday-at-420pm-10-utc-hawaiian-time\/cropped-upr-1024×600\/#main” data-recalc-dims=”1″ data-lazy-loaded=”1″ \/><\/a>Home Site: Pirate Radio<\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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