• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

FCC Shuts Down Alex Jones’ Flagship Pirate Radio Station In Texas

JacksinPA

Supporting Member
DP Veteran
Monthly Donator
Joined
Dec 3, 2017
Messages
26,290
Reaction score
16,771
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Progressive
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fcc-alex-jones-liberty-radio_us_5b74c883e4b0182d49b03afe

Liberty Radio had broadcast the far-right conspiracy theorist’s show without authorization for years.


The Federal Communications Commission has forced a pirate radio station off the air that had served as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ flagship in Austin, Texas.

The station, Liberty Radio, was also slapped with a $15,000 fine after operating from an apartment complex without federal approval since at least 2013, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The owners of the building have refused to pay the penalty, saying they are “not subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC,” according to court filings obtained by the newspaper. It’s unclear if the shutdown is permanent.
=======================================================
Alex Jones is like a plague.
 
This is going to prove to be not the best idea that anyone's ever had.
 
This is going to prove to be not the best idea that anyone's ever had.

Apparently Jones did not have the proper FCC permits. No permits, no broadcast station.
 
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fcc-alex-jones-liberty-radio_us_5b74c883e4b0182d49b03afe

Liberty Radio had broadcast the far-right conspiracy theorist’s show without authorization for years.


The Federal Communications Commission has forced a pirate radio station off the air that had served as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ flagship in Austin, Texas.

The station, Liberty Radio, was also slapped with a $15,000 fine after operating from an apartment complex without federal approval since at least 2013, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The owners of the building have refused to pay the penalty, saying they are “not subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC,” according to court filings obtained by the newspaper. It’s unclear if the shutdown is permanent.
=======================================================
Alex Jones is like a plague.

That's just weird. I wonder if anyone even listened to it. It makes no sense to operate a pirate radio station when it's so easy to create your own worldwide radio station online.

Kudos to the FCC for shutting this down. These types of radio stations, especially in the middle of a big city, can cause havoc for other radio communications.
 
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fcc-alex-jones-liberty-radio_us_5b74c883e4b0182d49b03afe

Liberty Radio had broadcast the far-right conspiracy theorist’s show without authorization for years.


The Federal Communications Commission has forced a pirate radio station off the air that had served as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ flagship in Austin, Texas.

The station, Liberty Radio, was also slapped with a $15,000 fine after operating from an apartment complex without federal approval since at least 2013, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The owners of the building have refused to pay the penalty, saying they are “not subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC,” according to court filings obtained by the newspaper. It’s unclear if the shutdown is permanent.
=======================================================
Alex Jones is like a plague.

Alex Jones claiming Fake News.
 
That's just weird. I wonder if anyone even listened to it. It makes no sense to operate a pirate radio station when it's so easy to create your own worldwide radio station online.

Kudos to the FCC for shutting this down. These types of radio stations, especially in the middle of a big city, can cause havoc for other radio communications.

How else could the off the grid people waiting for the lizard man, or crab people apocalypse be kept informed of what is truly happening in the world. Off the grid means no internet, can't let them know where you are or are listening to
 
How else could the off the grid people waiting for the lizard man, or crab people apocalypse be kept informed of what is truly happening in the world. Off the grid means no internet, can't let them know where you are or are listening to

Don't worry the Qarmy will protect them by starting fires all across those liberal states on the west coast.
 
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fcc-alex-jones-liberty-radio_us_5b74c883e4b0182d49b03afe

Liberty Radio had broadcast the far-right conspiracy theorist’s show without authorization for years.


The Federal Communications Commission has forced a pirate radio station off the air that had served as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ flagship in Austin, Texas.

The station, Liberty Radio, was also slapped with a $15,000 fine after operating from an apartment complex without federal approval since at least 2013, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The owners of the building have refused to pay the penalty, saying they are “not subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC,” according to court filings obtained by the newspaper. It’s unclear if the shutdown is permanent.
=======================================================
Alex Jones is like a plague.

You're kinder than I. By my reckoning, he is not like a plague, for he is the personification of pestilence. He's not like a plague because he is one.
 
How else could the off the grid people waiting for the lizard man, or crab people apocalypse be kept informed of what is truly happening in the world. Off the grid means no internet, can't let them know where you are or are listening to

Good question. Of course, I'm not sure how many people are living off the grid in downtown Austin, and at 25K watts on FM from the antenna on an apartment complex, it's not going to go that far.
 
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fcc-alex-jones-liberty-radio_us_5b74c883e4b0182d49b03afe

Liberty Radio had broadcast the far-right conspiracy theorist’s show without authorization for years.


The Federal Communications Commission has forced a pirate radio station off the air that had served as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ flagship in Austin, Texas.

The station, Liberty Radio, was also slapped with a $15,000 fine after operating from an apartment complex without federal approval since at least 2013, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The owners of the building have refused to pay the penalty, saying they are “not subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC,” according to court filings obtained by the newspaper. It’s unclear if the shutdown is permanent.
=======================================================
Alex Jones is like a plague.

This station has been on the air since the 1990's. It's not even an open secret, everyone in town has always known about this little fifty watt pirate station, and they've also known that the owners are sovereign citizens who don't recognize the Federal Government, or even the laws of the U.S.
I want to tell myself that the FCC decided to choose its battles carefully, given the mood of the public with the conflagration that occurred at Waco.
But there's maybe a little more to it than that. Truth is, it doesn't really take all that much to knock a fifty watt transmitter off the air. It doesn't take much to cause catastrophic damage to a piece of hardware like that from a remote location.

And if you look at the apartment building that serves as the transmitter site, it also doesn't take much to fell that scraggly little tower either.

maxresdefault.jpg


"Uncle Charlie" (epithet for the FCC) has been taking pirate stations in places like Venice California or Minneapolis Minnesota off the air remotely for years. These aren't fifty thousand watt clear channel flamethrowers powered by mission critical commercial grade Harris or Gates transmitters.
These are mostly home brew rigs, often built by sympathetic ham radio guys.

40-watt-fm-transmitter-amplifier-3.jpg


Ask any ham, they'll tell you what it takes to disable a fifty watt rig like that.
Clearly "Liberty Radio" had sympathizers all the way to the top.
 
I wonder if this is how Jones sees himself

Pump-Up-The-Volume.jpg
 
Looks like it's only a temporary suspension.

Not sure that's the case from a practical standpoint. Likely 'temporary' until they obtain a proper license. If there is an available frequency (not likely in Austin, especially with San Antonio down the road), they probably won't be able to overcome FCC hurdles.
 
Good question. Of course, I'm not sure how many people are living off the grid in downtown Austin, and at 25K watts on FM from the antenna on an apartment complex, it's not going to go that far.

Perhaps Tin foil hats work as antenna's expanding the listening radius
 
Good question. Of course, I'm not sure how many people are living off the grid in downtown Austin, and at 25K watts on FM from the antenna on an apartment complex, it's not going to go that far.

Perhaps it serves a nearby cult compound, lending the impression of outside validation?
 
How to make something desirable: ban it.





I suppose the question is only really down to timing for me. Was this in the works, or are they doing it because private media did it?
 
Not sure that's the case from a practical standpoint. Likely 'temporary' until they obtain a proper license. If there is an available frequency (not likely in Austin, especially with San Antonio down the road), they probably won't be able to overcome FCC hurdles.

I don't like Jones so I didn't delve too deeply into the situation, but it seems that this fracas started back in 2013, when he said he didn't owe the $15,000 fine.

I don't agree with shutting him down -- unless he's breaking the law -- but it looks like his chickens have come home to roost. Because it's been made a big deal in the media, I fully expect some of his wealthier listeners to fund his recovery and reinstatement.
 
The Sovereign Citizens will file paperwork or some other lunatics will host it?

I'm guessing something along those lines.

Jones appears to have a fringe following that will likely come to his aid.

I can't stand the guy -- but -- it's an easy task to change channels. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard him on the radio. The only time I've ever heard him is online when someone links to a clip of his.
 
I don't like Jones so I didn't delve too deeply into the situation, but it seems that this fracas started back in 2013, when he said he didn't owe the $15,000 fine.

I don't agree with shutting him down -- unless he's breaking the law -- but it looks like his chickens have come home to roost. Because it's been made a big deal in the media, I fully expect some of his wealthier listeners to fund his recovery and reinstatement.

To be clear, I don't agree with the efforts to 'shut him down'. The best way to deal with crazy is to let them talk. He's now getting attention beyond his wildest dreams. Plus, the standards are definitely inconsistent, and he's being ejected off of all of these platforms now because it's the trendy thing to do.

However, the pirate radio station needs to be shut down, absolutely. Radio frequencies are like gold, especially in the FM band, and he's interfering with other users that do follow the rules.
 
Apparently Jones did not have the proper FCC permits. No permits, no broadcast station.

Why would Jones need permits for a station he doesn't own and has no business connection to?

talk about your fake news...don't any of you even attempt to corroborate what the media feeds you?
 
Why would Jones need permits for a station he doesn't own and has no business connection to?

talk about your fake news...don't any of you even attempt to corroborate what the media feeds you?

That's a great point, that hasn't gotten appropriate emphasis. According to the article, this station broadcasts Alex Jones, but is not affiliated with him. Several media outlets have nicknamed the station "Alex Jones Radio", but it just carries his content. I suppose they could be in trouble for that as well, if they haven't gotten permission to do so.

So, refining my point -- this station isn't licensed, and should be taken off the air. Since their whole philosophy is that they 'aren't subject to the authority of the FCC', I doubt they're going to get a license either.

From the article:
The Austin American-Statesman, which first published news of the lawsuit, initially referred to Liberty Radio as Jones’ local “flagship” station, as did HuffPost. NPR notes that while Jones himself isn’t affiliated with Liberty Radio’s 90.1 FM station, the frequency has long been known locally as a source for his content. The Austin Chronicle reported in 2014 that some referred to the channel by the nickname “Alex Jones Radio.”
 
Another little tidbit... the article said the station is broadcasting on 90.1 FM. The reason they are able to use that frequency and not get stomped on by a commercial station is that 88.1 to 91.9 is reserved for non-commercial, educational broadcasting stations. So, they aren't going to get a license for that frequency.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting_in_the_United_States
 
Back
Top Bottom