The airwaves of Free Radio Santa Cruz, which typically feature voices like local talk show host John Malkin and Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now,” have gone strangely quiet while the station looks for a new home. After officials from the Federal Communications Commission dropped off a noncompliance letter on Aug. 12, owners of the station’s home asked DJs to pull the plug on its antenna, which hung from a giant tree in their yard. The unlicensed pirate radio station has since suspended operations and been broadcasting online only.
“I’m feeling sad and frustrated that we are off the air,” says Malkin, a veteran of Free Radio whose show focuses on spirituality and social change. He hopes the station will move again within the month. “This is kind of unfortunate because we just moved a year ago,” he adds.
Malkin and other longtime hosts say the 16-year-old station has moved about eight times since its first broadcast in 1995 and has been raided once by government officials, in 2004. The station has also received over a dozen noncompliance letters similar to the one the current landlord received for operating without a license.
In spite of tight government regulations, Free Radio Santa Cruz has enjoyed widespread community support, even from city officials. Last year, then-Mayor Mike Rotkin declared March 27, 2010 “Free Radio Santa Cruz Day” in honor of the station’s 15th anniversary.
Malkin says Free Radio’s next secret studio location will need to have a tall tree where broadcasters can hang their large antenna and be in downtown Santa Cruz. There are other guidelines as well. “We need someone who is going to not cooperate with the FCC when they do show up with a letter,” says Malkin.
Visit Freakradiosantacruz.org for more information.
