FRSC Shutdown

At about 9 AM on September 29, 2004, 16 armed federal marshals and a dozen FCC agents entered the house where Free Radio Santa Cruz 101.1 FM has been broadcasting for the past six months. Agents closed off access to the house, entered the radio studio and turned off the transmitter, ending almost ten years of commercial-free broadcasting. About one hundred supporters of 101.1 FM came out to protest the action including mayor of Santa Cruz, Scott Kennedy., who told the crowd that Free Radio has the support of the City Council and that the Council is opposed to the FCC shutdown of this independent media source, particularly during this time of war. Free Radio collective members will gather tonight to discuss a return to the airwaves, likely to occur with a back-up transmitter within 24 hours. During the raid at least five vehicles of FCC and federal marshals suffered flat tires, one leaving the scene behind a tow truck.

Other radio, television and print media urged community members to go to the sight of the shutdown, where FRSC supporters waved signs and tried to speak directly with the government agents, asking if they didn’t have more important business to attend to.

Legal papers were given to collective members of Free Radio indicating that all broadcasting equipment was to be confiscated. While on the roof of the downtown, two-story Victorian, agents dismantled and lowered the radio antennae to the sidewalk, where a frustrated and upset crowd was gathered.

This raid of Free Radio Santa Cruz follows a visit six months ago by FCC agents to the studio. This occurred just five days after moving the studio to the new sight.

Free Radio Santa Cruz is a commercial-free, collectively run radio station that was operating for almost ten years without a license from the US government. With about 50 collective members, the station has been broadcasting local, national and international news to the Santa Cruz area on 101.1 FM and worldwide on the internet at http://www.freakradio.org.