Should light, sound and air cost anything? Do they not inhabit all that is around us on the planet earth? Surely they do. Why shouldn't communications across the airwaves, be accessible to anyone? I and many others, feel as if they should be, but major corporations with paid advertising, tend to think property of the airwaves belongs to them.
Ever wonder why terrestrial radio sucks so bad, except for the patch work of college stations all over the country? Playlists are created, then become syndicated to groups of stations, beholden to the same corporate share holders. These vanilla stations rely on all the elements working together to never provoke or ask questions. With advertising dollars building the walls and playlists, there is no true voice, nor chance of music outside of the "safe" realm being heard.
While recently working on a project with a vendor of ours, we heard the same loop three times in under four hours, from the local top 40 station. The music being played was not our forté, but I could understand why someone would dig the melodies for the casual listener. It was pure candy and devoid of any filling. The music had the depth of a water puddle, but it served a purpose, to entertain.
Having a voice and being an individual is something everyone should strive for. Dare to be different and dare to break new ground. Copying what everyone else does, surely doesn't make for a great story and ultimately it shows lack of vision. We applaud folks such as Stephen Dunifer, for fighting the good fight and creating a voice free of constraint.
Learn all about Free Radio Berkeley
How To Make a Radio Station from Free Radio on Vimeo.
a brief history of Free Radio Berkeley from seth gadsden on Vimeo.
"Founded on April 11, 1993 as a Free Speech voice challenging the regulatory structure and power of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Free Radio Berkeley has been engaged in an ongoing legal battle with the FCC. Until it was silenced by a court injunction in June 1998, Free Radio Berkeley was broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 104.1 FM with 50 watts of power as the alternative voice for the greater Berkeley/Oakland area. The original Free Speech mission to provide community news, discussions and interviews, information, a wide range of music, and more has now been taken up by Berkeley Liberation Radio.
Free Radio Berkeley was instrumental in helping to to create an ever growing micropower broadcasting movement to liberate the airwaves and break the corporate broadcast media's stranglehold on the free flow of news, information, ideas, cultural and artistic creativity. This movement, by creating an ungovernable situation for the FCC, forced this regulatory body to establish a very limited low power FM broadcast service (LPFM). Viewed by many within the micropower community as a form of damage control and a divide and conquer strategy, this LPFM service only allows the establishment of low power stations in rural communities due to overly stringent channel spacing requirements. Even given the limited nature of LPFM it was immediately opposed by both the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio. As a result of intense lobbying efforts by both these organizations Congress passed a bill that severely curtailed an already limited service. The National Lawyers Guild Committee on Democratic Communications responded to the initial LPFM rule making proceedings and is currently assisting with the LPFM application process.
Following the example of Free Radio Berkeley, hundreds of micropower broadcast stations have taken to the air across the United States and in other countries as well. Current FCC regulations mandate a minimum broadcast power of 100 watts for non-LPFM stations and require such a high cost of entry so that only the rich and well endowed can have a voice. Micropower broadcasting is helping to restore grassroots democracy, bringing back the concept of open and free civic discourse among all citizens. Further, it is a direct challenge to a broadcast system based entirely on wealth. A micropower FM broadcast station with a coverage radius of 12-15 miles can be put on the air for a cost ranging from $1000-$2000. An affordable amount for any community desiring to have a voice. Most of our transmitters can operate directly from car batteries, thereby allowing the setting up of portable stations operating at strike lines, rallies, demonstrations, community events and fairs, and festivals. Drive-by radio!
Free Radio Berkeley has two somewhat distinct entities - Free Radio Berkeley 104.1 FM, a silenced broadcast station that was operating with 100 volunteer programmers, and - Free Radio Berkeley IRATE (International Radio Action Training, Education), which provides transmitter kits, technical support and training and is involved in national and international outreach and organizing efforts. Our transmitters and other related equipment are being used by popular liberation struggle movements in a number of countries.
On this site you will find information on Free Radio Berkeley. Our web storefront is also available offering the latest in micropower broadcasting kits, accessories, complete station packages, audio equipment and antennas. Also, check out the Micropower Broadcasting section containing information and links to help you start your own community micropower radio station."
Ever wonder why terrestrial radio sucks so bad, except for the patch work of college stations all over the country? Playlists are created, then become syndicated to groups of stations, beholden to the same corporate share holders. These vanilla stations rely on all the elements working together to never provoke or ask questions. With advertising dollars building the walls and playlists, there is no true voice, nor chance of music outside of the "safe" realm being heard.
While recently working on a project with a vendor of ours, we heard the same loop three times in under four hours, from the local top 40 station. The music being played was not our forté, but I could understand why someone would dig the melodies for the casual listener. It was pure candy and devoid of any filling. The music had the depth of a water puddle, but it served a purpose, to entertain.
Having a voice and being an individual is something everyone should strive for. Dare to be different and dare to break new ground. Copying what everyone else does, surely doesn't make for a great story and ultimately it shows lack of vision. We applaud folks such as Stephen Dunifer, for fighting the good fight and creating a voice free of constraint.
Learn all about Free Radio Berkeley
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| Free Radio Berkeley a community based FM station, started in 1993 by Stephen Dunifer |
How To Make a Radio Station from Free Radio on Vimeo.
a brief history of Free Radio Berkeley from seth gadsden on Vimeo.
"Founded on April 11, 1993 as a Free Speech voice challenging the regulatory structure and power of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Free Radio Berkeley has been engaged in an ongoing legal battle with the FCC. Until it was silenced by a court injunction in June 1998, Free Radio Berkeley was broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 104.1 FM with 50 watts of power as the alternative voice for the greater Berkeley/Oakland area. The original Free Speech mission to provide community news, discussions and interviews, information, a wide range of music, and more has now been taken up by Berkeley Liberation Radio.
Free Radio Berkeley was instrumental in helping to to create an ever growing micropower broadcasting movement to liberate the airwaves and break the corporate broadcast media's stranglehold on the free flow of news, information, ideas, cultural and artistic creativity. This movement, by creating an ungovernable situation for the FCC, forced this regulatory body to establish a very limited low power FM broadcast service (LPFM). Viewed by many within the micropower community as a form of damage control and a divide and conquer strategy, this LPFM service only allows the establishment of low power stations in rural communities due to overly stringent channel spacing requirements. Even given the limited nature of LPFM it was immediately opposed by both the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio. As a result of intense lobbying efforts by both these organizations Congress passed a bill that severely curtailed an already limited service. The National Lawyers Guild Committee on Democratic Communications responded to the initial LPFM rule making proceedings and is currently assisting with the LPFM application process.
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| DIY ham radio custom made to broadcast the airwaves |
Free Radio Berkeley has two somewhat distinct entities - Free Radio Berkeley 104.1 FM, a silenced broadcast station that was operating with 100 volunteer programmers, and - Free Radio Berkeley IRATE (International Radio Action Training, Education), which provides transmitter kits, technical support and training and is involved in national and international outreach and organizing efforts. Our transmitters and other related equipment are being used by popular liberation struggle movements in a number of countries.
On this site you will find information on Free Radio Berkeley. Our web storefront is also available offering the latest in micropower broadcasting kits, accessories, complete station packages, audio equipment and antennas. Also, check out the Micropower Broadcasting section containing information and links to help you start your own community micropower radio station."
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| AutoDesk PC chassis box has new found life as a chassis for radio broadcasting, from Mr. Vacuum Tube |
