From Infoshop Library

[edit] Seizing the Airwaves

[edit] Preface: Free Speech: A Fable

Stephen Dunifer

In a far distant country lived a people called the Mericans. A proud, stoic lot were they. Unlike many surrounding lands they had overthrown the mantle of obedience to a feudal monarchy and established what was called a republic. Creating a document known as the Declaration of Independence they set forth certain principles such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as their primary goals. Elaborating further on this, they created a Constitution which reluctantly established certain basic rights of every citizen, known as the Bill of Rights. Such things as freedom of speech, equal protection under the law, protection from unreasonable search and seizure and so forth. All of these sought to redress and prohibit the type of mistreatment they had received under the prior monarchy they had done away with. All of this sounded very well and good. As time turned the pages of history it became obvious that certain legal concepts were not stated but very well established and enforced. As the country grew with every advancing wave of industrial development and technology even the less astute among its citizens realized that something was amiss in the Land of Liberty. Unfortunately the means of communication had, for the most part, resided in the hands of those who could own them. In fact, in earlier times printing presses had been licensed by the king. Such restrictions prevented dissenting views from reaching a mass number of the citizens of Merica. What information and contrary views that did leak out were attacked without mercy by the captains of industry, affectionately known as the Robber Barons. Despite smashing of printing presses by the hirelings of what had become a ruling elite, citizens committed to the basic tenets of the Constitution persisted in their efforts under the banner of Freedom of Speech.

Technology continued its march forward in the land of Merica. Other forms of communication were developed. One of these was known as Radio. Unlike newspapers and books, it carried the spoken word to all who had a radio receiver. A person spoke or sang into an instrument known as a microphone which converted the sound vibrations into electrical impulses which were converted into radio waves by a unit called a transmitter. A radio receiver picked up these radio waves and converted them back into sound vibrations that were made audible by a loudspeaker. Radio receivers began proliferating by the tens of thousands. Communities and various organizations found they could set up their own transmitters and broadcast their views to all who might listen. This was far easier than owning big printing presses.

Being their somewhat slow reacting selves, the ruling elite finally caught on to what a money making proposition radio was. They could use it to sell more commodities and convince people that slavery was freedom. Only one problem stood in their way, many dissenting voices had already taken to the airwaves in the naive belief that freedom of speech was the right of every citizen. Shaking the puppet strings of those they controlled in government, they pulled the usual trick of creating yet another regulatory body over which they would have full control. This regulatory body finally became known as the Federal Communications Commission. Restoring order to what they called "chaos" of the airwaves, the FCC proceeded to silence all of the small voices. They turned over the ownership of what was supposed to be the common property of the people to the Robber Barons.

Every time citizens took a notion to exercise their right of free speech on the airwaves the FCC was there to squash such acts of temerity. It called such initiatives acts of ";piracy." An odd notion since the citizens were merely attempting to reclaim what had been stolen from them in the first place.

As the years rolled on an even more effective medium of advertising and social control was developed. It was known as Television. Being very expensive to set up and maintain it remained well beyond the means of all but the very wealthy to own. As radio broadcast equipment evolved technically it became easier and cheaper to set up a community radio station which would reflect the greatest diversity of voices. To forestall this possibility the FCC enacted even more rules which forbade the licensing and operating of an FM radio station with less than 100 watts of power. Once again they acted to prevent all but the wealthy from having a voice. It was akin to saying that everyone had the right to free speech, but you had to own your own solid gold podium from which to speak.

After passing through a rather tumultuous time known as the sixties in the land of Merica, it was becoming rather painfully obvious to many citizens that there was a wide difference between the reality of their situation and what was promised to them by their Bill of Rights. Some maintained that the government existed more to protect the haves from the have nots than actually enforcing the rights of every citizen.

But what was one to do? With every means of communication being concentrated into fewer and fewer hands any true discourse within civil society became impossible. Thanks to a steady drum beat of advertising many citizens were being convinced that freedom just merely meant choosing from fifty brands of breakfast cereal, twenty brands of toothpaste or twelve brands of soap. Convenience yes, but definitely not personal freedom and liberty, however.

A few intrepid individuals decided that enough was enough and set up their own community broadcast stations without FCC approval. Upon discovering one of these operations, self-described as micropower radio by its operator, the FCC huffed and puffed, threatening severe fines and all the wrath of regulatory hell upon it. Unimpressed and secure within a house built with the brick of political conviction and liberty, this community station, Black Liberation Radio was not taken off the air by the FCC.

Some other folks impressed by this effort and alarmed over the massive media propaganda machine decided to take several courses of action. A legal committee was formed to defend the rights of micropower broadcasters. Shortly following that another citizen decided to directly challenge the authority of the FCC both on the airwaves and ultimately in court. Since they have always had their way with the courts the FCC sought an injunction to silence this community station known as Free Radio Berkeley. As surely as pride goeth before a fall, the FCC had the shock of their bureaucratic lives when the judge refused their injunction request on constitutional grounds.

During that time micropower broadcasting became a campaign of electronic civil disobedience. As more citizens realized they could provide an outlet for the many voices in their communities, micropower stations sprouted up like mushrooms after a night's rain. Encouraged by the legal victory and the technical expertise provided by Free Radio Berkeley in the form of inexpensive transmitter kits, hundreds of micropower or free radio stations took to the airwaves all across the land of Merica.

For many it was a way to actively realize what had been promised by the Bill of Rights but never truly allowed by the government -- free discourse across any medium of a citizen's choosing. It was also the further realization that any true democracy rests on the free exchange of ideas, news, information, cultural and artistic expression.

And now, good citizen, the next chapter in this fable is up to you. How will you write it? Will you take part in this movement to democratize not only the airwaves but all means of communication? It does not take much in the way of resources to put a community voice on the air. In fact, the cost can be kept to $1000 or less. Are you satisfied with format and formula radio? Does the media reflect the diversity of your community? Do you believe in the First Amendment and the right to tell the truth? Why not consider putting a micropower FM radio station on the air in your community? Technical advice and equipment are offered by Free Radio Berkeley while legal support and expertise is provided by the National Lawyers GuildÕs Committee on Democratic Communications. Contact information is as follows:

Free Radio Berkeley
1442 A Walnut St. #406
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 464-3041
email: frbspd@crl.com