Posted on 07/11/2011 11:13:04 AM PDT by raccoonradio
The Educational Media Foundation tells the FCC “this pirate station is having a significant impact on the reception [of what is now WKLV] in portions of its service area.” It has a very good idea where the pirate’s hiding out: “in East Orange, New Jersey, specifically near South Maple Avenue and Sussex Avenue, west of the Garden State Parkway.” “Jamminz” isn’t exactly hiding, however. EMF claims that “Jamminz Radio’s programming is…open and notorious.” The K-Love folks paid Cox $15.5 million and put their contemporary Christian network “K-Love” format on the former WCTZ, Port Chester NY at 96.7. That was going into the Memorial Day weekend, and now EMF asks the FCC to “immediately take actions to terminate ‘Jamminz’” - also on 96.7.
The pirate is running commercials and operating a website that contains contact information for potential advertisers. There’s a Facebook page, for “New Jersey’s #1 hottest Jamaican radio show on 96.7 FM.” EMF’s attorney David Oxenford asks the FCC to “take all steps necessary to cause Jamminz Radio to immediately cease illegal operations.” K-Love has another friend in high places they can summon: the New Jersey state law that confers extra enforcement powers on local authorities.
In Boston the feds knocked off “Datz Hits 99.7” which caused many Boston-dwelling fans to be unable to hear legitimately licensed WCRB 99.5 FM. Other stations in the area are notorious for defying the FCC, etc., claiming they serve the community (but often causing interference—including spurious signals to aircraft frequencies), running ads but not paying taxes on income (file under We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ License).
To a large extent big government is bad but I do support the idea of protecting broadcast signals from lawbreakers. There are college stations, smaller AM outlets, etc. who could provide a home for some of these people but they’re rather break the law.
should say “classical fans”
The pirate station is operating illegally, it needs to be taken down.
Something tells me it won’t be because I’m guessing its a station and listening audience packed with liberal Obama voters.
bump
This only works when it isn't the government itself that isn't the violator. WSHU, an NPR station, has a transmitter north of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Its service area isn't supposed to extend west of the Hudson River.
But it routinely steps on WFMU (broadcasting from Jersey City) where I live 20 miles west of the Hudson.
ML/NJ
Does this qualify as a tech ping item?
When I lived in Hollywood I used to listen to Pirate Cat radio. He fought FCC regulators with the clause that pirate radio is allowed during wartime.
>>There’s a Facebook page, for “New Jersey’s #1 hottest Jamaican radio show on 96.7 FM<<
I don’t want to stereotype, but, having visited Jamaica a few times, I can certainly guess the play list goes something like:
* Red Red Wine
* Come, Mr. Gangi man, tally me
* Smokin and tokin’
* tokin and smokin
* Red Red Wine
* Da gangi is so smooth
* Red Red Wine
* I can’t see you through these red red eyes
* Man, THAS a joint!
* Red Red Wine
(repeat)
* Red Red Wine
Which I always find funny, since Neil Diamond wrote the song & recorded it originally. Not exactly Jamaican.
Here is Neil Diamond's version from 1968: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysxw7EON5xc
I don’t care what the formats of either station are...FCC will hunt down the pirate station and shut it down. Even if it’s Holder’s People.
If the FCC had only one job in the world, it would be licensing radio and TV stations.
>>Which I always find funny, since Neil Diamond wrote the song & recorded it originally. Not exactly Jamaican.<<
I did no know that — that is freaking HILARIOUS!
>>If the FCC had only one job in the world, it would be licensing radio and TV stations.<<
I am dating myself here, but I remember the old days of CBs and “running power” and Uncle Charlie hunting down overpowered CB stations using “Christmas Trees.”
One guy in particular I remember, had a unit that could light a florescent light next to the whip antenna on his (super-bad) 1969 Charger. Uncle Charley never did get him that I know of. He was 10-30 forever...
I am 10-8 awaiting your finals, then 10-10... ;)
(yeah, I used to really talk like that...LOL)
Just to document how good the FCC can be at hunting down transmitters. We had a intermittent transmitter in the San Jose area some years ago that was jamming amateur satellite frequencies with likely around 100W of power. We never heard an FCC call-sign from the station either. Through some detective work we managed to figure out that the station was configured as a “remote-base” and how to turn the transmitter on remotely. Time to call in the FCC.
We received a call that FCC was in town...please turn on the transmitter. 30 seconds latter...thank you. Half an hour latter - repeat the sequence. 15 minutes latter - “Please turn it on so I can figure out WHICH antenna it is on the house.”
True story - they are good when they want to be!
>>“Please turn it on so I can figure out WHICH antenna it is on the house.”<<
Amazing — a great story.
That is what they are supposed to do and it is good to see SOME of their people still excel at it.
Only problem was this story is about 20 years old :-( This happened in the San Jose area in the very early 90’s.
I’m sure the politically correct FCC will find some reason why the Christian station is being discriminatory and should stop complaining.
Yes...often it looks the other way because the pirates are perhaps providing a service by putting on music etc that serves a part of the community and as long as nobody complains about signal reception problems of legit stations...
The 99.7 Boston situation (classical station at 99.5 unable to be picked up due to pirate) got resolved partly because the people that run 99.5 are the tote-bag public radio folks at WGBH...oh, and aircraft radio at Logan airport was being affected too. Lord knows Logan airport doesn’t need any crashes due to signal jamming (bad enough they let terrorists onto a couple planes during 9/11)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
