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We noted it in the Day Around the Bay last week (via SF Appeal), but some of you radio fans may have noticed that Pirate Cat Radio (89.7 FM) has completely disappeared off the airwaves and are now operating web-only. SF Weekly picks up the story this week, and reports on the $10,000 fine that's been slapped on the unlicensed station, despite their having operated openly, under the FCC's nose, for years -- using a loophole in the commission's rules regarding unlicensed stations "during wartime," which technically, one could argue, we're in now. 28-year-old station head Daniel K. Roberts is hoping for some donations to help cover this fine, and to help the station keep operating in its current web-only incarnation.
Pirate Cat Radio Fined $10,000, Off Air For Now
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I will gladly donate to help fight the fine, but I don't want to donate to pay off the fine.
so what's the fine for? they've been coasting on that loop-hole for years, what's changed?
i was in there the other day and asked the (new'ish?) barista about the off-air radio and he told me they had a broken antenna, yeah right...
but it totally sucks, pirate cat really is the best. KUSF comes in second. KALX is way better in the morning than the afternoon...Buttercup's weird lilt freaks me out, makes me want to crash into people...
Yeah I'm with @thisis. If Pirate Cat has a plan to either fight the fine or to come into compliance so they can continue broadcasting legally, I'm all for donating to them. I think they're a great service to the community.
On the other hand, if they're just going to pay this fine, resume their illegal operations which will get them another fine, ask us to pay it, and so on . . . well that's just plain stupid. I'd rather not flush my money down the toilet that is the FCC.
Just broadcast online. Let people listen on their iPhone, Pandora style.
Fiiiight it.
Check the history of the FCC hitting major broadcasters with hefty fines, and then reducing them by a factor of 100 once the press-smoke clears.
Certainly worth appealing.
There's a benefit show planned on Sunday November 29th at the El Rio, 6pm.... Come support community based radio and fight the FCC... Full disclosure I am a DJ at pirate cat... Cheap Hooch Wednesday nights from 10-Midnight!
Viva la Pirate Cat!!!
The pure irony of the Pirate Radio movie advertisement playing next to this article is mildly depressing, I must say.