Miami Pirate Arrested During Live Broadcast

[Ct Yankee]

With apologies to the erudite philosophers of Three 6 Mafia, from Hustle & Flow: "It's Hard out Here for a Pirate"
Tough to get that broadcast monkey off your back.

Meanwhile, Polynice taking Captain Kirk's advice from The Empath: "The best defense is a good offense, and I intend to start offending right now."

https://rbr.com/a-unique-fm-pirate-ends-up-in-miamis-most-infamous-jail/?event=logout

[NQC]

Hey CT Yankee,

They  either never learn or don't care.

1: Don't operate on FM, it is TOTALLY  VERBOTEN and one of the quickest ways to get busted.

Sporadic / "short" transmissions just above the X band or on HF are the way  to go.Admittedly , these are "hobby" stations , that even with advanced notice, may get  6 or 8  listeners (on 1720 or 6950 !!! ) from  primarily HFU  folks ( and probably few or NO other sources).

To ME (anyways) Xband + or HF operating  is 80% about the OP's  engineering skills and the propagation at the time of broadcast. 6 listeners is GRAVY, I would go in expecting even LESS . 1 to 3 IS nice though.

But these guys want to "rebels" and/or attract an "audience" (not sure how many "youngsters" listen on FM radio anymore, probably VERY few).

2: Don't operate continuously from the same location for long periods of time.

3: Don't flip off the FCC after they have busted you the first time, the show is permanently over after that.

Oh well.....


NQC

[n2avh]

One thing I don't understand about this is why the guy was arrested by local authorities and is in a local jail, for allegedly violating a county law. Since when do jurisdictions other than federal get to have or enforce laws about illegal broadcasting?

[ChrisLobdell]

I think Florida passed its own state laws regarding pirates ...??

[skeezix]

https://codes.findlaw.com/fl/title-xlvi-crimes/fl-st-sect-877-27/

Florida Statutes Title XLVI.
Crimes § 877.27. Unauthorized transmissions to, or interference with, a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission prohibited; penalties

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(1) A person may not:

(a) Make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission in this state unless the person obtains a license or an exemption from licensure from the Federal Communications Commission under 47 U.S.C. s. 301, or other applicable federal law or regulation; or

(b) Do any act, whether direct or indirect, to cause an unlicensed radio transmission to, or interference with, a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission or to enable the radio transmission or interference to occur.

(2) A person who violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.