Free Radio San Diego (96.9 FM) was an unlicensed radio station located in San Diego, California. The founders claim that its creation was a reaction to Federal Communications Commission restrictions on new radio licenses.[citation needed] They provided a commercial-free unlicensed broadcast beginning on October 13, 2002 — with occasional interruptions due to FCC raids and technical issues. The open-format music selection was chosen by DJ preference but was weighted towards punk rock. Also featured were syndicated news programs such as Democracy Now! and Free Speech Radio News.
| Broadcast area | San Diego, California |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 96.9 (MHz) |
| Branding | Free Radio San Diego |
| Programming | |
| Format | Free Form |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Unknown |
| History | |
First air date | October 13, 2002 |
| Technical information | |
| Class | Pirate |
| ERP | 1,000 watts[citation needed] |
Transmitter coordinates | 32°43′34″N 117°07′24″W / 32.726211°N 117.123420°W |
| Links | |
| Website | web |
FCC enforcement actions
editOn July 21, 2005, U.S. Marshals and the Federal Communications Commission carried out a raid against Free Radio San Diego, effectively seizing all of their broadcast equipment.[1][2][3] The station resumed broadcasting three months later from a new location.[4]
The station did not broadcast over-the-air from January to October 2007, as a result of a $10,000 Notice Of Apparent Liability (NAL) For Forfeiture,[5] which was later reduced to $750.[6] However, it continued to broadcast online, via Internet.[citation needed]
As of January 2021[update], Christian radio station KRTM, based in Murrieta, California, is using the 96.9 frequency for K245AI, a licensed broadcast translator of their main station. This translator on the same frequency is now used for Latin pop station KLQV, owned by Univision Communications.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Raided by the FCC". Pirate969.org. Archived from the original on 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
- ^ Joe Hughes and Frank Green (2005-07-22). "Agents raid, shut down unlicensed Free Radio". San Diego Union Tribune. Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ Philipp, Sven (2005-07-22). "FCC Shuts Down 'Notorious' San Diego Pirate". All Business. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ "Pirate969.org: November 2005 Broadcast Resumed". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
- ^ FCC NAL 200732940002 12/28/2006
- ^ FCC NAL 200732940002 6/13/2007
- ^ "K245AI-FM 96.9 MHz". Radio Locator. Retrieved 10 December 2019.