Free Radio Santa Cruz Evicted!

Free Radio Santa Cruz has had their transmitter evicted. The landlord has given us word that the transmitter has to go - and soon.

Free Radio Santa Cruz has been on the air for over 15 years, but not without having to move from time to time. This is the downside of being an unlicensed, DIY, pirate radio station.

The Federal Communications Commission plays dirty. They find out who our landlord is and write them a letter saying that if they don't throw us out then the landlord could lose their property. The fact hat no landlord has ever lost a property because there was a pirate station on the property isn't written in the letter. The letter is terrorism - and it works. This is the cheapest way the FCC has to put pressure on independent media. It only costs them postage to hassle Free Radio.

Some landlords have ignored these letters and recognized them for what they are - intimidation. But Free Radio transmitter's current landlord is playing along. So we need a new transmitter location ASAP.

Here's how you can help. Free Radio needs a spot on the westside, northside or eastside (not downtown) that has a roof or a tall tree for our transmitting antenna, the higher up the better. Our transmitter needs a locked, dry space with electricity, access for our engineers and access to the internet.

Free Radio offers an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) for the internet access and router, up to $50 per month for the electricity used, and counseling on what to do when the FCC comes knocking. Normally, the transmitter requires very little maintenance, so we won't be coming by very often.

If you can host Free Radio's transmitter for at least 6 months, please let us know. Send email to frsc [at] freakradio.org or call our voicemail at 427-4523