Works In Progress - June 2007 - Free Radio Olympia suspends operations due to FCC harassment

Free Radio Olympia (FRO) ceased transmitting its signal over the airwaves on May 22nd to avoid a probable raid by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The interruption of our service to the community will last until a new volunteer steps forward to host our transmitter, accepting the risk of a raid or FCC visit.

Recent FCC harassment has escalated significantly, both statewide and nationwide. The FCC has also

recently harassed two other unlicensed stations in Washington State, according to DIY Media's FCC

enforcement database. They are located in Port Townsend and Everett.

FRO recognizes that free speech is a right that is denied to the people by the federal government as

represented by the FCC and corporate media groups such as the National Association of Broadcasters and its powerful members such as ClearChannel. These corporatists maintain a powerful monopoly over media in the United States and have no interest in providing the public with access to the public airwaves.

FRO opposes the corporate domination of radio, which privatizes what should be a public community service. In addition, we believe that the FCC's recently enacted licensing structure for low-power fm operations has failed to serve the needs of communities, though we love and support KOWA 106.5 fm in its struggle to maintain local low-power operations within the ridiculous broadcast location restrictions they have been assigned by the FCC.

FRO's goal is to provide information and education to the community by offering diverse content including independent and local music, alternative commentary and news programs, and coverage of local events, none of which are made available by corporate radio stations in our area.

The content and nature of free radio broadcasting is determined by whoever feels the need and desire for expression on the airwaves by participating in the FRO collective, with the only limit to speech being an intolerance of hate speech and direct threats to individuals.

On Oct. 29, 2004, in response to a request by KBCS on 91.3 in Bellevue, fro moved our broadcast frequency to 101.9 FM, where we continued to broadcast in defiance of the government and industry's unwarranted attempts to restrict and control access to the electromagnetic spectrum.

FRO's use of 91.3 might have prevented some listeners of KBCS from tuning into their favorite radio station, thus limiting their freedom of choice. KBCS is a progressive community station that airs many of the same important public affairs programs FRO airs such as Democracy Now! and Free Speech Radio News. The members of FRO reached consensus that the responsible course of action was to change our frequency to one not used by broadcasters near enough to have listeners in Olympia.

As an unlicensed, unregulated micro-power radio station, fro has always held to the belief that no one

owns the airwaves, and that no government or entity should have the authority to own, rent or sell access to the radio frequency spectrum as if it were real estate. In fact, some of us believe no one should have the authority to own, rent or sell real estate! Still, it is not the fault of the renter that the landlord exacts a toll.

While KBCS is a licensed station, it does not have freedom of mobility on the dial. fro, as an autonomous station, has much more freedom. As good community oriented radio pirates, we held ourselves accountable to our mission statement and relinquished our squat on 91.3 for the good of the people, letting the progressive voice of kbcs again have room on Olympia's dial.

On Mar. 1, 2005, FRO changed frequency again to 98.5 FM, this time in response to pressure from Sunny 102/KSWW in Grays Harbor County. We moved off of 101.9 because KSWW had complained that we were interfering with their signal. fro was not interfering with this station within its protected contour, the reach of its signal guaranteed by its license. We were broadcasting with low power well outside of KSWW's target listening area. KSWW did not desire FRO's demise, only that we vacate its first adjacent frequency. KSWW management brought its complaint directly to FRO, a show of good faith we decided to return in kind by complying with their wishes.

As an unlicensed micro-power radio station, FRO is being forced into a corner and ultimately there will be nowhere left for us to go on the dial. We did not make our stand on 101.9, but there will come a time, sooner or later, when we will be forced to make a stand; to defend our right to broadcast under the

First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. When that time comes fro will need all the community support we can get.

For more information about FRO or to get involved, visit us online at frolympia.org, or email us at fro@riseup.net, or call us at 705-9780, or you can drop off notes or goods for us at Last Word Books downtown. You may contact the authors of this article by phone at (360) 870-3127.