RadioBanter - View Single Post

September 16th 04, 05:24 AM

By Wayne Bledsoe,
September 15, 2004

Federal Communications Commission agents, along with U.S. marshals, raided
pirate radio station KFAR this morning.

The agents shut down the station in Vestal about 10:30 a.m. and began
confiscating all of the 2-year-old station's equipment.

KFAR (Knoxville First Amendment Radio) has no broadcasting license or any
official management. Until last February the station's antenna was mounted
in the top of a tree.

The station, which broadcasts on 90.9 FM and was heard across much of Knox
County, had been visited twice by agents from the Federal Communications
Commission, and DJs had been told to stop broadcasting.

They complied - for a while - but then returned to the air more determined
than ever.

Three FCC agents silenced the station's broadcast signal while three
marshals stood by.

KFAR posted a raid alert on its Web site when the agents arrived.

None of the dee-jays give their names to avoid fines.

In addition to possible fines being levied at an individual, any person
found to have been broadcasting illegally is automatically barred from ever
being granted a broadcasting license.

KFAR has few rules: No racist, sexist or homophobic language, and do not
offend community standards before 10 p.m.

The station's lineup includes shows that feature many different styles of
music and shows sponsored by various left-wing political and social groups.
Cricket points out that there are at least two DJs who play Christian music
and at least one who plays anti-abortion songs.

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_ne...183784,00.html