Tag Archives: unlicensed radio

A quarter century on, micropower pioneer Mbanna Kantako still broadcasts to Illinois capital

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Paul Riismandel

An uncompromising voice for human rights, unafraid to make unrestrained and harsh criticisms of local and federal officials, is still heard on the airwaves of Illinois capital city. Despite multiple letters and visits from the FCC over the years, the … finish reading A quarter century on, micropower pioneer Mbanna Kantako still broadcasts to Illinois capital

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Radio Free Sarawak broadcasts independent voices to Malaysian Borneo

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Paul Riismandel

Al Jazeera reports on the unlicensed Radio Free Sarawak which is making itself a thorn in the side of the Malaysian government, broadcasting independent voices in the run-up to general elections in that country. Sarawak is a former British colony … finish reading Radio Free Sarawak broadcasts independent voices to Malaysian Borneo

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Decentralized Dance Party aims to Kickstart documentary & global radio parties

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Paul Riismandel

Last year we posted about the Decentralized Dance Party’s appearance at SXSW. The DDP uses a low-power unlicensed FM transmitter worn in a backpack, instead of a PA, to broadcast dance party music in public places to participants carrying boombox … finish reading Decentralized Dance Party aims to Kickstart documentary & global radio parties

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From underground to the Daily Camera: Boulder, CO pirate broadcaster surfaces in the local paper

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Paul Riismandel

The Daily Camera reports on an unlicensed broadcaster in Boulder, Colorado that was previously little heard of outside of Boulder. Boulder was home to Boulder Free Radio, which was famous in free radio circles for playing a long-running cat-and-mouse game … finish reading From underground to the Daily Camera: Boulder, CO pirate broadcaster surfaces in the local paper

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Retired Navy air traffic controller to do community service for running pirate radio station

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Paul Riismandel

Back in January I reported on Ft. Myers, Florida resident Albert Knighten, a retired Navy air traffic controller who was arrested in December 2011 on charges of unlicensed broadcasting for running a neighborhood community radio station. Knighten got in additional … finish reading Retired Navy air traffic controller to do community service for running pirate radio station

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Indigenous Mayans in Guatemala rely on pirate radio

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Paul Riismandel

Costa Rica’s Tico Times recently published a profile of unlicensed Guatemala radio station Radio Ixchel, as part of an examination of the radio scene in that country. Guatemala has as many as 800 pirate stations, where most radio licenses are … finish reading Indigenous Mayans in Guatemala rely on pirate radio

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Occupy Wall Street occupies the airwaves, too

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Paul Riismandel

This post by John Anderson originally appeared at DIYmedia.net and is republished here by permission. Two decades ago, thousands of people took to the air without permission from the FCC to protest the agency’s draconian policies regarding access to the … finish reading Occupy Wall Street occupies the airwaves, too

Posted in economics, politix | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Netherlands plans a pirate radio crackdown

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Paul Riismandel

The Netherlands has been a hotbed of unlicensed radio activity for decades. Dutch stations like the storied Radio Veronica, which broadcast off-shore from 1960 to 1974, inspired the UK pirate radio scene during the same time period. The country still … finish reading The Netherlands plans a pirate radio crackdown

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Microradio pioneer Mbanna Kantako receives notice from the FCC

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Paul Riismandel

Mbanna Kantako has been running one of the longest lived unlicensed radio stations in the US, Human Rights Radio in Springfield, IL. He served as the inspiration for Stephen Dunifer and other microradio activists who used unlicensed broadcasting as a … finish reading Microradio pioneer Mbanna Kantako receives notice from the FCC

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Build your own FM transmitter at Free Radio Berkeley’s Summer Radio Camp

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Paul Riismandel

Although Free Radio Berkeley has not been an operational radio station for over a decade, founder Stephen Dunifer continues to champion the cause of unlicensed micropower radio. In this spirit FRB just announced its 2011 schedule of summer radio camps. … finish reading Build your own FM transmitter at Free Radio Berkeley’s Summer Radio Camp

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