2008 Woodie Awards
Pirate Radio sets sail again
FCC shut-down short lived
Zack Cinek
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Community
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Humboldt Free Radio Alliance broadcasts locally in the Humboldt Bay area, without legally required licensing from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). When operating, the Alliance hits the radio dial at 99.9 FM from Arcata to portions of Eureka.
Humboldt Free Radio Alliance member Downbeat said the arrival of the FCC at the studio was entirely unexpected . (To be known by a radio name is part of pirate radio culture. Humboldt Alliance members use aliases when on the air or speaking with the press.)
Downbeat said, usually, the Alliance dodges the FCC by halting its broadcast.
A previous visit from the FCC came about five to six years ago, Downbeat said. Downbeat was not present during that FCC event.
The FCC's appearance at the Alliance's studio indicates what some Alliance announcers think could be new tactics to close unlicensed stations.
The recent FCC visit involved changed tactics, Downbeat said. He said as part of the FCC's recent visit it contacted landowners to close the Alliance's studio.
It worked. The Alliance left their old studio location and stopped broadcasting once the FCC came to town.
But from a new location, the Alliance planned to be back on the airwaves beginning Valentine's Day.
The Alliance is working toward adding news programming to the station's schedule. News programming candidates for the Alliance's return are Counterspin or Flashpoint, the station said.
Either way, the station is interested to know what its listeners want to hear.
"We're looking to grow that part of our mission," Jimmy Bones said. Bones said the Alliance hopes to become more community-friendly.
If you fly the free radio flag, it is possible to be a radio pirate. Take the Alliance's Jimmy Bones; Bones' friends in his homeland of Philadelphia were interested in pirate radio. Then once in Humboldt, Bones interviewed with the Humboldt Free Radio Alliance and landed a show.
"We'll be back bigger and stronger than before," Downbeat said.
INFO BOX: Tentative schedule: Started Valentine's Day, weekday evenings running into the night, and weekends starting around noon. Want to be a pirate? Anybody is welcome to enquire: HFRA 999@yahoo.com or www.humboldtfreeradio.org
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