Author
V-Man
On Wednesday Sept. 29 at about 9:20 am, agents of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pulled the plug on Free Radio Santa Cruz, an unlicensed, low-power fm radio station which began broadcasting in the spring of 1995..... Here are some interviews from the scene. The first file was recorded off the air, as the raid was in progress. David Barsamian asking Howard Zinn about art in a time of war.
On Wednesday Sept. 29 at about 9:20 am, agents of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pulled the plug on Free Radio Santa Cruz, an unlicensed, low-power fm radio station which began broadcasting in the spring of 1995 to return community control and accountability to our local media. The FCC action came about an hour after more than a dozen agents from the US Marshals Office, some carrying assault rifles,"secured" the property of the Zami student housing co-op on Laurel Street, where the station had been broadcasting for about 5 months. US Marshals stormed the building, and forced the residents outside, some in their pajamas.
Within minutes of the shutdown, a crowd of station DJs, listeners, supporters, & local politicians, gathered in front of the house to protest. Food not Bombs, and a local chef brought hot soup and pastries for the demonstrators. Passing motorists, city bus drivers, garbage trucks, and delivery drivers all honked in suppport of the station. By noon the crowd had swelled to nearly 150 people.
While one team of FCC agents removed the antenna, a second worked at disassembling the studio, while the Marshals mostly stood around. Some two hours later, FCC agents reemerged from the house with an estimated $5,000 worth of radio equipment packed up in moving boxes. The confiscated gear includes, a transmitter, power amplifier, compander/limiter, power supply, antenna, antenna mast, 200 foot coaxial cable, 1 sixteen channel mixer, 1 two channel mixer, 2 turntables, 3 tape decks, 3 CD players, CD Burner, dvd player, vcr, computer, flat-screen monitor, analog telephone hybrid, 2 microphones, and assorted cables.
In our nearly ten year broadcast history, FRSC broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in defiance of federal regulations. The FCC is charged with regulating the airwaves in the public interest. We believe that it has failed to do so and has proved itself to be controlled by monied interests.
At present, the Free Radio Santa Cruz collective is reviewing all options to move forward with our news, music, and artistic programming. We are actively asking for help from our community of friends and supporters. We are only able to remain on the air because of the commitment by our collective members and the help of our community. If you are a listener of Free Radio Santa Cruz, please help us maintain the public airwaves by making a donation. At this time money is needed to secure the neccesary equipment so we may continue to meet the diverse needs of our community.
To support the station financially, send checks payable to Free Radio Santa Cruz, or simply "FRSC," to PO Box 7507 Santa Cruz, CA 95061 or visit http://www.freakradio.org/donate.html to donate through a safe and secure credit card transaction.