In our first article on the problems with radio in New York, we lightly touched on the problems between the legal radio stations and the new so-called pirate stations, that is, unlicensed stations that do not follow government regulations. While we do not justify their existence, it is a consequence of the lack of opportunities for radio personalities in the Big Apple, where the small number of radio stations limits where they can practice their profession. In addition, the FCC denies permits for new radio frequencies.
And it is not as if radio frequencies are not available in New York. They are, but under the control of Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, Inc, (MRBI), a corporation owned by Chinese business owners, which is dedicated to buying and selling bankrupt radio stations in the United States, with the goal of renting space, which for them is more lucrative than planning radio programming and paying the hosts. However, if one has several million dollars, one can buy a frequency from MRBI in order to transmit legally, as was the case with La Kalle 105.9 FM and others that once belonged to the company. Renting a space for one of these stations is quite costly, and few do it because of the small margin of profit that in most cases ends up in the hands of the owners of MRBI in the form of rent.
As a response to these issues, and because necessity is the mother of invention, Rika 94.5FM and later La Metro 95.9FM were created. Listeners and several announcers have applauded the creation of these stations, regardless of their illegality, because it was believed that they would break the routine of the best known radio media in the city. But, as the two new stations were not transmitting out of love for the medium, but rather to make a profit, they adopted the MRBI system of renting space. Obviously, for reasons of reach and coverage, both Rika and Metro have more affordable prices for their programs and advertising.
In addition, since you do not sign contracts with pirate radio stations, the program producers are at the mercy of the station owners, who can cancel a program at any time. The penetration on the dials of these illegal stations has been characterized as unfair competition for stations paying taxes.
This situation has generated protests and legal threats based on the fact that the owners of said stations find radio frequencies that are not in use, use mini-transmitters, raise antennas, and begin to transmit with equipment worth a ridiculous few thousands of dollars, in open competition with radio companies that have made millions of dollars in investments in equipment and staff and are acting within the law.
Since Stephen Dunifer, the father of U.S. pirate radio, installed the first illegal radio transmitter, there have been many such stations throughout the country, all persecuted by the federal telecommunications laws. Dunifer believes that "if enough people are able to open their own FM radio station, the FCC will be overwhelmed and unable to respond with legal action." He says that the best way to beat the authorities is to open FM stations faster than the FCC can close them.
