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Interview with Contra Info about the Anarchist Struggle in Greece.

DJ questionmark talks with people from the anarchist language translating collective Contra Info. This was a collaborative effort between DJs at pirate radio stations Athens Free Radio 98fm and Free Radio Olympia 98.5fm.

The discussion covers many topics of interest to anarchists and others in the social struggle. Such as, building and maintaining revolutionary infrastructure, opposing Neo-Nazis and nationalism, immigrant solidarity, political and social prisoner solidarity, the uprising in 2008, general strikes, general assemblies and neighborhood meetings, and much more. We also talk about the anarchist movement and prison struggles in the US. Most importantly you get to hear voices from the uncompromising and unflinching spirit of anarchism in Greece.

Audio from the Tacoma Leonard Peltier Clemency Rally

Listen to Native elders talk about the struggle to free Leonard Peltier. Chauncey Peltier, Leonard’s son, speaks about his dad. More speeches by Leonard’s supporters were recorded at the rally held in front of the Federal Courthouse in downtown Tacoma. Follow this link and find more about radio Olympia streaming.

Download at:

http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2011/05/26/peltier_march_2011.mp3 (1 hour and 3 minutes long, 46.8 mb mp3)

Olympia Peace Activist talks about Challenging Abusive Conditions in the Olympia City Jail

Olympia peace activist Patty talks about her participation in a federal lawsuit to change conditions in the Olympia City Jail. She was arrested in November during anti-war protests that shut down military transport through the Port of Olympia. Patty was one of 40 women who held a sit in at the port gate. The lawsuit came from their treatment in Olympia City Jail where they were held for hours in their underwear and subjected to other humiliating treatment. Patty talks about options people may have when abused in jail. He also noted that he was scared for the future, and what those implications may be. For example what if gambling became illegal everywhere? What if you couldn’t enjoy amazing games on the web, just because someone thought it was not okay? Simply unacceptable. That’s why you should go here at the Magical casino and spin those slots while you still can. Here you can read some news and interviews of Washington DC radio guide.

Interview with Paul Wright of Prison Legal News

Paul talks about founding Prison Legal News while incarcerated in Washington State as a resource for prisoners. Overcoming hurdles to publishing and distribution, including the first three issues completely banned in Washington State prisons, Prison Legal News emerged as a leading nation-wide magazine in the United States with over 7,000 subscribers in all 50 states. Possibly the most censored publication in the country, Prison Legal News has successfully pressed lawsuits against prison mail restrictions and to improve prison conditions for the last 21 years. He manages to mention that prisoners don’t have access to the internet and entertainment options. They just hop on to this site and have a jab at the amazing blackjack games or what have you. Especially now that they are giving loads of casino bonuses. He wants the inmates to have these sorts of not so much luxuries anymore because they are so tightly integrated into the everyday lives we live that when we are cut out from the internet, we are cut out from the world.

Paul also talks about the economics of prison slavery and how prisons manage unemployment rates and poor people. Prison Legal News is currently working on a campaign to end high prisoner phone call costs. If you want to know more, you can always contact us.

What Is Pirate Radio and How Is It Different?

Free Radio Olympia, kicking out the jams on 98.5 fm, is Olympia’s hometown pirate radio collective. What is pirate radio and how is it different from commercial, community, or low-power radio? To begin, the differences include legality, broadcast power/signal reach, support base, and programming.

COMMERCIAL STATIONS

Commercial stations are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). There are 8 types of commercial FM licenses. The licenses determine the contour, or signal reach, allowed to each radio station. The contour is determined by a combination of power and height of the antenna. For example, Class A stations, the smallest, broadcast at 6,000 watts, place their antennas at a height of 100 meters, and have a contour of 28 kilometers. Class C stations, the largest, broadcast at 100,000 watts, place their antennas at a height of 600 meters, and have a contour of 91 kilometers.

Commercial radio stations technically support themselves wit advertising. They also make deals with record labels to target “listener markets” with crappy music and crappier commercials. This partnership is lucrative for them and for the record labels.

The cycle goes something like this: a consumer hears a pop song on the radio. It’s catchy and cute so she buys the album, which is mostly filler. The majority of her $17 is pure profit for the record company. They use some of the profit to find or create another one-hit wonder who will only get a tiny percentage of her $17 and pay the radio stations to play the new single. She hears it on the radio and buys it…

Deals with the record labels also control the quality and type of music programming available to commercial radio stations. Many stations no longer have even national news or traffic and weather reports. They rely more on pre-recorded announcements than live dj’s. Most commercial stations are owned by large media conglomerates such as ClearChannel. ClearChannel owns more than 1200 radio stations nationally as well as billboards, PR companies, and music venues. ClearChannel goes the extra step to record dj’s in one location using slang specific to each area and talking about the local bars in each city to play on their radio stations across the nation. In the physical studios, an intern can press a button to play the pre-recorded chatter. Clear Channel exercises this control in their music venues as well and will only produce shows with radio pop bands, as well as bullying local venues into shutting down.

Some of the commercial radio stations have existed since the “Broadcasting Boom” of the 1920’s. Radio programming before the boom was very experimental. The first standardized and networked broadcasts were developed in the ’20’s, but most stations had local news and entertainment. However, independent programming has virtually disappeared since the roaring 20’s as corporations rather than local communities now determine American culture.

COMMUNITY STATIONS

Community radio stations originated as Class D non-commercial educational licenses. These licenses were created to bring experimental programming from educational institutions to the airwaves. They were first issued in 1948 and began as 10-watt stations. Eventually the regulation changed to 1-100 watts.

In 1967 The Public Broadcasting Act birthed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and three years later, National Public Radio. The idea for the NPR network was “school on the airwaves,” providing programming unavailable on commercial stations. NPR was much more organized and formulated and eventually was preferred to the experimental formats broadcast on the Class D stations run by the schools. By 1978, the CPB, though created to “fund alternatives to commercial television and radio,” had successfully convinced the FCC that Class D licenses were a waste of radio space. The FCC eliminated any further Class D awards and required that those already in existence had to upgrade above 100 watts, move out of the 88-92 MHz non-commercial educational sector of thedial to the commercial sector from 93-108 MHz, or be shut down.

KBCS in Bellevue, KAOS in Olympia, and KBOO in Portland are examples of Class D stations that still exist. They are supported by community members and colleges. They have no advertisements. They are almost entirely volunteer-run, and have a programming format that invites participation from the community. The programming format is often set up in 2-4 hour blocks in which dj’s have their special show. The shows can be weekly or daily, and include a variety of music, discussion, national, and local news. Many of the Class D licenses that survived the cut off have streamlined their format to coincide with the NPR format, under pressure from the FCC and the NAB.

MICRO-RADIO

Micro-radio describes all stations broadcasting at or under 100 watts. All Low-Power FM (LPFM) stations and most pirate radio stations fall into this category. LPFM is a micro-radio licensing scheme that the FCC created in response to the growth of pirate radio nationally. The original plan allowed for 1,000 new licensed stations. The FM dial could encompass 300,000 or more low-power stations nationally. However, NPR and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) lobbied the FCC to gut the proposal to 250-500 stations. They also raised concerns about broadcast interference and mandated that the stations be set in third-adjacency positions. Most pirate radio stations operate at second adjacency, which means that if the commercial station is at 96.5, the pirate is at 96.9. There are rarely interference problems. However, the FCC set the regulation to third-adjacency, which means that if the commercial stations are at 96.5 and 97.7, the LPFM station can claim 97.1. But if there are no such third adjacency spots open, there can be no LPFM stations. In a metropolitan area such as Seattle, there are no open third-adjacency frequencies. There are, however, 13 second-adjacency frequencies.

LPFM is a very new license category. In the year 2000 the FCC began issuing the licenses. Most LPFM stations are in rural or low populated areas. Olympia has an LPFM station, KOWA 106.5 fm, with a solar-powered transmitter operated by Media Island. It is not yet fully operational. [as of Dec. 1, 2004] The process of obtaining the license includes purchasing thousands of dollars of FCC-approved equipment, as well as the thousands of dollars the license itself costs.

Though both LPFM and pirate radio are micro-radio, LPFM is legal and politically neutered by catering to a cultural and political hegemony. LPFM split the pirate radio community. Some pirates now work with the government to set up the licensed micro radio stations, while some continue to operate their illegal community stations.

Amateur broadcast radio was originally banned in 1921. The class D licenses provided a space on the fm dial for community and experimental programming until they were eradicated in 1978. There were very few, if any, illegal fm stations in the US during this time. In Britain, however, in 1964 the first pirate radio was broadcast off the shore on ships protesting the BBC monopoly. In 1973, a ship off the coast of New Jersey broadcast for one day before the FCC shut it down. In the mid-late 1980’s a pirate radio movement began in the vacuum left by the FCC when it decided to make community radio illegal. Felonious community micro-radio appeared all over the US from Florida to Berkeley. Pirate radio not only is a felony, but also highly political, experimental, and entirely run and monetarily supported by volunteers who are dedicated to community empowerment.

Free Radio Olympia 98.5 fm is currently operating at 100 watts. The goal of FRO is to “provide information and education to the community by offering diverse music, alternative commentary, and news programs. The content and nature of free radio Olympia broadcast is determined by whoever feels the need and desire for expression
on the airwaves….

“In order for the radio to be used effectively as a tool by the community, we feel that participation is necessary. Micro-radio offers the community a means for outreach, to communicate and unify. We oppose the corporatization of radio as an effort to privatize what should be a public service. In addition, we believe that the FCC’s efforts toward LPFM operations have failed to serve the needs of the community due to the expensive and inaccessible nature of licensing. In the form of direct action, and a challenge to the so-called “authorities”, we transmit without a license over public airwaves.” FRO does this with very little capital and incredible dedication from the members of the collective. All decisions are made by consensus, and all programmers are in charge of their material.

Radio Interview with Tre Arrow

Interview with environmental activist and former international political prisoner Tre Arrow. Tre talks about his current activities in Portland and his past efforts to preserve forest eco-systems. He recounts his participation in the Eagle Creek and Tillimook forest campaigns. Tre became well known for standing on the ledge of the US forest Service building in downtown Portland for 11 days. He then ran for congress for the Green Party and got over 15,000 votes. Olympia radio stations offers you tips how to start your own free station radio.

Tre became a suspect for the Ross Island Sand and Gravel arson after his co-defendant bragged to his girlfriend, who told her dad, who told the FBI. While a fugitive on the FBI’s most wanted list, Tre crossed Canada and was arrested in Vancouver. Tre fought his extradition and lack of raw vegan food in jail with a series of hunger strikes. His weight dropped to around 80 pounds at one point.

Tre served his prison time and is currently on parole. He remains committed to social and ecological justice.

Radio Interview with Sac Prisoner Support about Eric McDavid

Free Radio Olympia offers you the interview with Jenny of Sacramento Prisoner Support about the case of Eric McDavid. Eric was entrapped by government agent “Anna”  in a fake plot to blow up a dam. Anna used FBI money to recruit, house and transport her fake eco-cell. After the arrests, Eric’s co-defendants took cooperating plea-deals and testified against him. Eric was then tried and convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to 20 years.

Sac Prisoner Support has supported Eric throughout this experience and is developing long term strategies. An international day of action is called this June 11th, in solidarity with Eric and eco-defender Marie Mason.

FRO Broadcast Schedule

NOTE: This Free Radio Olympia broadcast schedule is not guaranteed to be up-to-date.

 

MONDAY

1am-4am FRO Available Space

4am-8am FRO Available Space

9am-Noon FRO Available Space

noon-1pm Democracy Now!: The War and Peace Report with Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzalez: news and public affairs. (rebroadcast)

1pm-4pm FRO Available Space

4pm-6pm Country Wisdom with DJ Sister Spinster

6pm-6:30pm Free Speech Radio News: News from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship. (rebroadcast)

6:30pm-7pm Between The Lines :a half-hour news magazine featuring progressive perspectives on national and international political, economic and social issues. (rebroadcast)

7pm-8pm DJ Questionmark

8pm-9pm Flashpoints :a daily investigative news and public affairs program broadcast weekdays at Pacifica Radio KPFA-FM (94.1) in Berkeley, California.(rebroadcast)

8pm-11pm  FRO Available Space

 

TUESDAY

midnight-9am FRO Space Available

9am-noon FRO Space Available

noon-1pm Democracy Now! The War and Peace Report with Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzalez :news and public affairs. (rebroadcast)

1pm-3pm FRO Available Space

3pm-6pm Radio Freakshow and Odditory Respectable with Dr. Krankenstien

6pm-6:30pm Free Speech Radio News: News from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship.(rebroadcast)

7pm-9pm The B-Hive with Double B

9pm-11pm  Glitch-and-Growl

11pm-1am FRO Available Space

WEDNESDAY

1am-9am FRO Space Available

9am-noon POWER Radio

noon-1pm Democracy Now! The War and Peace Report with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez :news and public affairs. (rebroadcast)

1pm-4pm FRO Space Available!

4pm-6pm Your Rock n Roll Dream Date w/ Fat Pat

6pm-6:30pm Free Speech Radio News News from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship.(rebroadcast)

6:30pm-7pm Mediageek Radioshow A weekly look at the world of grassroots and independent media, a critical examination of our media environment. (rebroadcast) 
7pm-8pm FRO Space Available

8pm-10pm DJ Astralwulf: Music from our galaxy and beyond.

10pm-midnight FRO Space Available

midnight – 8am (starts between 12am & 1am)  Black Lake Lagoon with The Swamp Keeper – featuring obscure 1970s-80s punk & alternative & goth, plus rare 1960s psychedelic rock,  The 1AM Concert, scifi & superhero radio dramas  2am-3am, The Perfect Album Segment at 3am, to help get you through the night.

THURSDAY

midnight – 8am (starts between 12am & 1am)  Black Lake Lagoon with The Swamp Keeper – featuring obscure 1970s-80s punk & alternative & goth, plus rare 1960s psychedelic rock,  The 1AM Concert, scifi & superhero radio dramas  2am-3am, The Perfect Album Segment at 3am, to help get you through the night.

10am-noon FRO Space Available

noon-1pm Democracy Now!: the War and Peace Report with Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzalez :news and public affairs. (rebroadcast)

1pm-4pm FRO Space Available

4pm-6pm  DJ Grandmaster Bedroom

6pm-6:30pm Free Speech Radio News News from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship. (rebroadcast)

6:30pm-8pm FRO Avaiable Space

8pm-10pm  DJ Softcore

10pm-midnight 

midnight

 

FRIDAY

midnight-6am  FRO Available Space

6am-7am Dream Intruder with DJ Cavalier – A show that progresses from soft music to nosier music to help you wake up

7am-8am In the Courtyard with King DJ – A benevolent request show where King DJ dedicates songs to people in the kingdom

8am-9am Variety Hour with DJ Charles Spaniel

Covers Off, Covers On: The first half of the show is the originals, the second half covers of the original in sequential order

or One And One: A show that reinterprets film and literature through the use of music

or Random Shuffle Improv: An improv narrative story based on the songs that show up on random shuffle.

or Fantastic Archival Voyage: Spaniel’s end-of-year tapes are replayed from 1965 onward to show what his favorite music was then.

9am-10am FRO Available Space

10am-noon FRO Available Space

noon-1pm Democracy Now! The War and Peace Report with Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzalez :news and public affairs. (rebroadcast)

1pm-4pm FRO Available Space

4pm-6pm North by Northwest with DJ Don’t cha know

6pm-6:30pm Free Speech Radio News News from Pacifica Reporters Against Censorship.(rebroadcast)

6:30pm-7pm This Way Out  International LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi, trans) public affairs radio magazine(rebroadcast)

7pm-8pm  FRO Available Space

8pm-10pm The 99% Report Radio Show– News and Commentary about the “Occupy Movement” locally to globally and more with Dj Lady Marmalade and Dj 99. “Occupy, Decolonize, and Liberate”

10pm–11pm DJ Lady Marmalade’s Hour of Random Stuff

11pm-2am midnight Reptilian Stewpot with DJ Len Crenshaw

 

 

SATURDAY

midnight-5am FRO Space Available

5am-8am  FRO Available Space

8am-9am  Against the Grain (rebroadcast)

9am-10am Alternative Radio (rebroadcast)

10am-noon  Media Monarchy : your source for alternative news, politics, conspiracies & coverups. (rebroadcast)

noon-2pm OlyRock: Local Olympia music only (FRO DJs: Just show up.)

2pm-4pm  Mister E

4pm-6pm ConspiraZine! Exposing Suppressed Information! with Demy DeAsis. (rebroadcast)

6-8pm In The Belly Of The Beats with DJ Brewhaha

8pm-10pm Olympia Human Show with dee jay ale-E-in

10pm-midnight FRO space available

midnight-2am FRO space available

 

SUNDAY

2am-5am FRO Space Available

5am-8am FRO Space Available

8am-11am  FRO Available Space

11am-2pm Binary Beatdown with Mr Cuddlefish

2pm-4pm WART Radio with DJ Tanner

4pm-6pm FRO Available Space

6pm-8pm FRO Available Space

8pm –10pm The Molecular Helpline: Increasing Entropy with DJ Isotope

10pm-11pm FRO Available Space

11pm-????  DJ Len Crenshaw

How do I start my own free radio station?

How do I start my own free radio station?

Basic Equipment List:
Power Supply (usually 12 volts DC and must supply enough current (amps) for your power level)
DC cables for each DC component
Exciter
Amplifier
SWR meter
coaxial jumpers (50 ohms)
coaxial feedline (50 ohms)
antenna
PLUS your AUDIO source(s)and audio cables.

Handy test gear includes:
wattmeter (appropriate to your power level and frequency)
MFJ 259 or 269 SWR Analyzer and Frequency Counter
dummy load (appropriate to power and freq.)
multimeter (reads volts, amps, and ohms, and detects electrical continuity
extra coaxial jumpers
and an FM radio receiver!!!

Crow: If you’re new to building electronics and soldering, do not build your own kit. Buy your stuff. I actually managed to get shit for buying pre-built stuff, but it’s not worth the hassle of fucking up your shit. I would learn about electronics however. Early on we had many problems with equipment interfering with other equipment(improper shielding). If we had more advanced electronics knowledge we would have spared ourselves A LOT of headaches. Find out more about all internet radio stations in Washington DC.

Megawatti: Actually, if you can afford to make mistakes and you want to learn about electronics, I encourage you to build your own kit. First read some basic electronics theory. You must know the difference between a capacitor, and inductor, a resistor, and a transistor! Learn Watt’s Law (volts x current [amperes] = power [watts]) and Ohm’s Law (current [amperes] x resistance [ohms] = voltage [volts]). Once you can make sense of that, practice soldering before you actually solder your kit. Once you can read a schematic and instructions well enough to try it, then build a kit and see how it works! For a first kit, the Veronica 1-watt is highly recommended, because the simple circuit-board layout is widely spaced instead of crammed. I also highly recommend building your own antenna and experimenting with it. The ARRL Antenna Book is the source for all information antenna, though you will find some designs for 3 meters (the FM broadcast band) in the First Steps PDF. Remember antennas, like microphones, can be directional (aiming a signal beam toward your audience from the edge of town), or ominidirectional (radiating equally in a circle around the antenna.) A good and easy directional antenna is the Yagi, and the simplest omnidirectional antenna is the Dipole.