Press Release: SC City Council to Support FRSC

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 3, 2003
Press Contact: Vinny Lombardo (831)-426-7712 vman [at] freakradio.org http://www.freakradio.org

Santa Cruz, CA- On Wednesday, September 3, the Santa Cruz City Council will consider an emergency resolution in support of microradio station Free Radio Santa Cruz, 96.3 FM. The council action comes in response to recent attempts by the Federal Communications Commision (FCC) to silence the 40-watt radio station. Last Thursday, FCC field agent David Hartshorn hand delivered a notice of unlicensed radio operation to the tiny station, giving operators ten days to reply with proof of a valid license or authority to broadcast.

The stepped-up attempts to shut down Free Radio Santa Cruz come in the wake of the agency granting a license to AIR-1, a national chain of Christian Rock stations, for a ten-watt translator on the same frequency, 96.3 FM. http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/info?call=K242AT&service=FX Free Radio Santa Cruz began broadcasting on 96.3 FM in the spring of 1995, providing Santa Cruz radio listeners with a diverse array of music, talk, and experimental programming unparalleled by anything available on the dial.

The Santa Cruz City Council is meeting at 3:30 pm in closed session, and upon completion, will have a public meeting to consider an emergency resolution supporting Free Radio Santa Cruz. The council is expected to urge the FCC not to interfere with the functioning of Free Radio Santa Cruz 96.3 FM, and urge state and local law enforcement officials to refrain from involvement in activities that prevent Free Radio Santa Cruz 96.3 FM from providing healthy democratic local media in the City of Santa Cruz.

The council action is being brought forward by Vice Mayor Scott Kennedy and is co-sponsored by Councilmember Mark Primack.

Santa Cruz City Hall is located at 809 Center St. The public meeting is expected to take place at approximately 5 pm.