“Radio Goldfield,” a pirate station run by seasoned citizen Rod Moses out of his trailer in Goldfield, Nevada (population 440) has received special temporary authority from the FCC to operate a 100-watt FM outlet without an official license until such time as the FCC opens another LPFM filing window.
How did he do it? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid‘s ringing endorsement, in correspondence to the agency, probably sealed the deal:
Radio Goldfield programming brought regular weather reports to this high-desert area of Nevada, where conditions can abruptly change in often times dramatic ways….Radio Goldfield programming also included timely and reliable information on law enforcement, public safety and school activities that helped the residents of Goldfield stay informed and engaged in their community. Moreover the station broadcasted Sunday religious services that were listened to faithfully by those living too far from a place of worship or those simply too feeble to make a weekly journey there practicable.
That, plus oldies pumped from an MP3 player. Rock on, Rod. I can’t find record of this STA on file in the FCC’s databases, but Moses did receive a warning letter from the Enforcement Bureau in August of last year for broadcast piracy. He shut down within 24 hours of contact, however, which appears to have helped his cause (yet also runs somewhat contrary to LPFM law).
Special Temporary Authority status typically runs for six-month periods, with a “limited number” of renewals available. Does this mean the FCC may consider opening up another LPFM license filing window in the relatively near future?
This is unprecedented, and the concept is worth further exploitation.
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