HFU HF Underground

General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: mao68 on April 02, 2021, 1900 UTC

Title: Pirates helping communities during COVID?
Post by: mao68 on April 02, 2021, 1900 UTC
Hello! New here, so I hope this is the correct place to post.

Does anyone know about people earlier in the pandemic using unlicensed radio to spread COVID safety guidelines? Or now spreading vaccine information?

Context: I'm writing about the PIRATE Act a year in. Interested in learning about cases where unlicensed stations helped keep communities safe in ways that traditional channels perhaps did not.
Title: Re: Pirates helping communities during COVID?
Post by: ThaDood on April 05, 2021, 1927 UTC
If I had to guess, the answer would be YES from those pirate FM stations that are serving the inner city ethnic communities. However, unless you know the stations' ops and supporters, don't expect much info from them, since they are being demonized more today, than ever before, for their unlicensed broadcasting activities. You may have to do what the BBC did 4 years ago and go undercover to gain trust and any info. That was a fascinating report from them, and if you look-back far enough in The HFU pages, you may still find the link for that and download. Granted, this was all before the COVID-19 BS, but I suspect that these stations would be the ones that are performing the answer of exactly of what you are asking. 
Title: Re: Pirates helping communities during COVID?
Post by: redhat on April 06, 2021, 0252 UTC
While not technically a pirate, I was made aware of several temporary tis style stations licensed through Ntia for information about covid testing locations and directions.  Most were associated with hospitals, churches, and community centers.

+-RH