Zero Chance THIS is Legal

Void in the Rules

So, if an FCC person says, "It's not doing any harm don't worry about it", does that stand up if a different FCC person comes along and tells you "There's no way you can do that" (?)

But everybody likes classic rock, which amounts to community approval.

You can't uncut a ribbon.

Maybe they ended up talking to FC Cincinnati instead of the FCC?

http://thecomeback.com/soccer/handwritten-letter-swearing-fcc-fc-cincinnati.html

Has thelegacy seen this!

Is that a legit defence, if you are not causing any interference to anything around and filling a void in radio programming ?

Tim's comparison makes sense....maybe something else we don't know about.

As Tim stated, there is absolutely no chance that this station is legally broadcasting.  There is no address on the Facebook page (other than a P.O. box), or any way to contact the station other than through a phone number (probably a cell).

And sure, I really believe them when they say they talked to the FCC, which had no problems with them using 25 watts on FM.

you guys don't get it there are areas in West Virginia where there is no stations at all.

There are exceptions to every rule yes it's illegal still but there are exceptions I'm sure. I don't see what the harm is anyway if there's nothing to interfere with why even bother going after them?

I have been reading about all the crap that these guys are getting and I am all for what they're doing. I sent them a message talking about how they can do carrier current and do it in such a way that jealous broadcasters can't do anything to them because it's not illegal under part 15 section 221. I hope that they follow my advice and run about 20 watts carrier current with neutral injection if they have only one Power Company.

Believe It or Not folks album Rockers are a part of an elite cult and there are many people in the government who really do love album Rock. Just like doctors and lawyers. These people might have the clout to get other people to back them up and maybe change the laws. Album Rockers are not like rappers they do have the money and the means to continue. If you can afford a $7,000 stereo system without batting an eyelash which most real album records can afford I'm sure that they will figure out a way to get a license even if they have to pay for it.

And people will donate to an album Rock Community I've seen this happen myself. I've gotten one donation from an individual of over three hundred bucks and that's just from one person. There is no way of an album Rock Community is going to sit back and let a few people kill the radio station and sit there and take it lying down they will fight you can better believe that I trust them I am a part of that Elite cult community.

I'm all for unlicensed radio stations pushing boundaries, whether it be in programming, or in range - as long as they stay within the rules.

Clearly, regardless of whether there are other stations in their locale, this radio station was operating well outside Part15.239, and they also misrepresented their legal status (knowingly or not).  That's why they're getting the crap, and not for the attempt at providing clearly desired programming to the community.

Maybe they need to go Internet only until they figure out the over-the-air stuff (both the owners came from an Internet only station - Real Radio Daytona).  Maybe AM carrier current would do the trick for them.

It would be great if the rules could be changed.  But until they are, there's no place for a blatant pirate station (and that's what this is - you certainly can't argue that using 25 watts is a slight misunderstanding of the rules).

I also think it's great that people are passionate about their programming.  I like album rock, but if you want to consider elite cult programming, consider jazz and classical, both of which are almost extinct these days.

Legacy, with the best of respect to you, you mean to say that in this area of Virginia where the station in discussion is if I went there and turned on a radio on FM the band would be blank, nothing at all?

No stations even from somewhere else receivable there?

I find it hard to believe that in that area in the most populated part of the continent the FM band is like an island in the Pacific 200 miles from any mainland, or deep in Yellowstone Park. They(station owners) said there's no stations locally but I can't believe there's no receivable stations on the band no matter where you are in the United States. In Canada yes but surely not in West Virginia.

A station needs to be at least 27dBuV to be listenable.  Plus if they don't cover the area with weather reports in situations of severe weather well I guess you'd never know.

Again I can see situations in areas in West Virginia because I have traveled through them we're even with a car radio yes you can receive stations but they are quite weak.

The Legacy: "There are exceptions to every rule yes it’s illegal still but there are exceptions I’m sure. I don’t see what the harm is anyway if there’s nothing to interfere with why even bother going after them?"

You don't see the harm? How does the FCC explain that they gave a pirate station permission to operate while we had to go through years of waiting to get a license. You can be sure the FCC did not grant anyone permission to run 25 watts on FM without a license. Call and ask your buddy that busted you. As far a their town being void of radio, check the FCC database. I call B.S.

In response to AMradiolegend, if they got permission on the phone from the FCC I hope they have the name of the person they talked to and the call was recorded. An email in writing would be better so when the FCC comes they have a leg to stand on. There could also have been a misunderstanding as I would think they would be read the riot act if they said to someone there(FCC) they have a 25 watt transmitter and there are no other local stations here.

Plenty of Stations:

What I thought.

Most stations within 30 miles, including a classic rock one. Guess they didn't surf the dial that good. Sure is a lot of country ones. Most would be perfectly receivable on any decent radio.

Good post.

This station is a pirate, plain and simple.

The fact that they claim they checked with the FCC demonstrates that they are deliberately misleading both the interviewer (who obviously doesn't know anything about radio regulations) and their audience.

It isn't a hobby station, as they are attempting to make money.

Their intentions may be honorable, i.e., serving the community with programming that isn't readily available elsewhere, but their methods are not legal.

I know that there is hand wringing from some quarters re the criticism being directed towards the station.  But perhaps what those people don't understand is that pirates hurt everybody.  They hurt licensed stations, and they hurt those unlicensed stations that attempt to live within the rules.  Why do you think that the public's general impression of ALL unlicensed stations is that they are pirates?  Why do you think that the FCC is so suspicious of unlicensed stations they run across.  They've all been proven to be right more than wrong.

I keep on hearing about unsubstantiated rumors that the FCC is looking at increasing power to hobby broadcasting.  Realistically, I just can't see a justification for it.  Why give legal license to every Tom Dick & Harry to generate even more interference and chaos on the airwaves (and more work for themselves policing those airwaves).

I say, create a new class of broadcasting service (perhaps only for the AM band, maybe 1 watt or so).  Make the licenses sufficiently difficult to obtain to weed out those who don't know what they're doing, but easy enough so that those that do can get them.  Something like what New Zealand has.Set aside some frequencies for this new class.  And see what happens.