January 31st, 2010 
joel The FCC investigation and shut down of two pirate radio stations in the Erie city limits is proving to be a controversial topic on this blog.
For some readers (and of course the FCC), the situation is clear: you must have a license to operate a broadcast radio station. For others, it’s more complicated: these stations filled a community need that big corporate radio just neglects.
Let’s continue the conversation about radio, TV, newspaper and internet concerns in Erie and beyond on this open forum in a civil and constructive manner.
As always, in addition to your comments below, you can e-mail me or tweet @pressandtower.
Embrace the chaos.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Loading ...
I don’t understand what is wrong with having a Pirate radio station in Erie. The FCC gets its panties all in a knot over two unlicensed stations filling a need yet large corporations (Nexstar, Lilly, etc) owning more than one TV/Radio station per market can pillage and plunder at will and the FCC allows it to happen. Our government (or someone with an axe to grind against Pirate radio) has its priorities askew.
After what has happened to commercial Radio and TV in Erie and the nation I could care less if there are pirate radio stations operating illegally. I hope whoever turned these people in is proud of themselves!
its a shame how ppl think these days. really it doenst matter to some as long as they have no benefit. where there is a will there is away. urban music is now and this will happen. lets see if u post it on your page when the fcc approves these stations.
Radio Pirate is back in Erie.
After only a few days after agents from the FCC’s Buffalo field office forced two illegal radio stations to shut down, apparently one of the pirate stations are snubbing their nose at the authorities and are back on the air. 90.1 FM is back on the air playing gospel music.
It is obvious the radio station has reduced its power but still very much heard in the downtown area of Erie.
Many of these illegal radio stations believe just reducing their signal makes them legal – but that is not the case. In fact, one of the pirate stations was interfering with other legal stations.
Maybe the agents from Buffalo will return to Erie. As Joel mentioned in his Press and Tower: If they were to resist the FCC, fines can amount up to $10,000 for illegal transmission of an unlicensed station.
I wonder how quick the FCC will race back into Erie and pull the plug this time? Mustn’t upset the almighty FCC.
Wasn’t there an episode of “Family Guy” where Peter Griffin sang about “The Freakin’ FCC?” good times! good times!
Hope the FCC comes back **edit**.
The law is that people without FCC licenses to broadcast can only go up to 1/4 of a mile. In house transmitters, etc. fit this criteria.
Tom, not quite. FCC Part 15 rules say nothing about distance:
“Unlicensed broadcasts on the FM broadcast band (88 to 108 MHz) are limited to a field strength of 250 µV/m at a distance of 3 meters from the antenna. This is equivalent to 0.01 microwatts. Emissions must be kept within the 88.0 to 108.0 MHz band under Part 15 rules.
Any unlicensed 88 to 108 MHz broadcasting with a signal strength greater than 250 µV/m at a distance of 3 m from the antenna is punishable by law and confiscation of all broadcast equipment.”
from Wikipedia entry on Title 47 CFR Part 15
Does anyone know if Channel 12 is selling DVD copies of their 60th program? I missed it and heard through the grapevine that Paul Wagner and Lisa Adams did an excellent job and I would like to purchase a copy. Thanks
People, there is a reason for the laws as they are. I’m sure that those who are complaining about the FCC ruling against these pirate stations would see the shoe on the other foot if these stations’ signals were interfering with some of the top local stations like say… oooooh Star 104, or Rocket (both of which cater to the younger audiences); the “Adult” stations like Classy 100, BOB 94.7, or Z-102.3; the two country stations (Wolf 93.9, or Country 98); or even the less “mainstream” Christian station, WCTL. Think about it. If you were driving in downtown Erie and listening to one of these stations, and some illegal pirate station suddenly overrode the bandwidth, wouldn’t you be just a tad peeved? Again, there is a reason for the restrictions. Without them, the airwaves would be total chaos.
I read it on one of those home transmitter websites but thanks for the tech info. Unfortunately the interference issue is bad for FM 96 From London thanks to WXNM 95.9. Why would a LPFM be approved on the same frequency as very powerful CFPL?
I was wondering about that station. I used to tune into FM96 quite a bit, then one day, BAM, I couldn’t pull it in anymore.
David is correct. Whether you think the FCC is effective or not is irrelevant. These are federal laws designed to regulate frequency assignments, etc. The other issue here is decency. These pirate stations are playing urban music…is it uncensored and if so, do we want our kids stumbling upon some of these lyrics while dial surfing? There’s quite a bit of irony afoot here: The very industry deregulation that now gives us cookie cutter, automated versions of vanilla radio, is coming down swift and hard on pirate stations. Alright, where is the FCC when the “public good” ceases to be served and several radio stations are on the air and not a single human being is at the controls? Or, some corporate nimrod with no broadcast experience combines TV stations only to provide a substandard news product and dozens of unemployed professionals. Thanks again FCC.
I kind of miss the days when a group or individual could write to Washington and the FCC asked for at least an explanation. Nowadays, it is a electromagnetic free-for-all.
from what was going on none of the other stations made a complaint on the stations. i listened to them and there music was clean. sound pretty professional. but the rules are the rules and maybe someday air space will open and urban music can make its mark like rap did when lots of people back in the day didnt think it would go far but, where is it now (THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SAY HUUMMM).
what i see is change. the blogs on here are a plus for urban music so somebody had to of read THE blogs. this pirate thing my be under the rug but there are some smart ppl out there that are looking into the possible progress of a low power urban station, thats for sure (THINK ABOUT IT, THERE IS ALOT OF CASH IN RADIO). only time will tell.
Back when I was at Country 98 in the late ’90′s, I recall telling PD Bill Shannon about the then new religious translator owned by the WGOJ folks out of Conneaut, Ohio at 98.7. He didn’t think it was a big deal until he drove by WICU where the 98.7 transmitter was and lost Country 98. The next day former station owner Bob Winters was talking to his lawyers about it.
Well, it’s February 4th, 2010 and Harrisburg is behind on payments of the city bills. Only $64 million so far, and that pales not because we are 4 days into the second month, but because they forgot to pay $288 million LAST YEAR that was guaranteed in “full faith and credit”.
I tried to find info on this at BizBuzz on GoErie but they are talking about Northwest Bank moving from 8th St to 8th St…into West Erie Plaza. (If you wanna go to Wendy’s, this will come in handy, eh?)
Options being considered by Harrisburg include
1) Raise taxes
2) Sell assets
3) Risk a Lawsuit so the Attornies can get their part
4) FILE BANKRUPTCY
“There’s never been a default like this in Pennsylvania municipal history,” she said. “This is all new territory.”
~~~Carol Cocheres, bond counsel for Harrisburg Authority
(by counsel, I presume she is an attorney too; could be wrong)
My suggestions include:
1) Leave taxes alone or the people file bankruptcy first.
2) Sell the Capital Building, the entire fleet of State cars, the Governor’s Mansion on the Susquehanna, all the chairs that our 9,000 legislators, aids, lobbyists, and assorted nobodies sit on all year.
Since PPL supplies electricty there and raised rates 30% on January 1, we save a bundle on electricity…produced right in the middle of the River next to Three Mile Island, south of town a tad.
3) Plead with nearby Amish to run the community under their religion (they got no debt, folks, and they pay taxes on time, mostly cash).
4) Ask BizBuzz what it takes to muster notice that the Capital of Pa is floating down the sewer and figuring on Act 47, not as a threat or bluff, but as a default that will ripple throughout the state.
5) Oh, yes, we have three branches of government, so sell the State Supreme Court building and all Authority sites too.
6) Fire all employees for two years until the economy improves, or hell freezes, whichever occurs first. Default on the Pensions of any and all legislators forever, and ask counsel in the area to see about collecting paid benefits paid in the past, and recoup them.
7) Offer a 5# Hershey Bar to everyone ousted as a consolation prize….they are about $29 bucks a piece for the 5 pound bar…BEFORE Hershey moved to Mexico, so they may be able to get ‘em cheaper now.
Real Story here:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-04/pennsylvania-state-capital-mulls-bankruptcy-as-a-budget-option.html
BizBuzz at GoErie sponge-worthy stuff here:
http://www.goerie.com/blogs/bizbuzz
Punxatawny Phil predicts the sky will not fall for at least 6 weeks.
Chicken Little disagrees.
BizBuzz has no comment on either.
And now, back to “Piracy, Erie’s Only Growing Business”, and Bizbuzz missed that too, eh?
Not even an hour on the Press and Tower, and the Mayor of Harrisburg is peeved at budget hearings being talked about in the media and INTERNET BLOGS.
How’d she find a P&T comment so fast?
WE thought she would still be at this night’s meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson addressed city council during its second day of budget hearing Thursday night to address the city’s debt problems, claiming the battle does not need to be fought in the media, but rather “behind closed doors.”
Tired of criticism from the media and Internet blogs while she tries to solve the city budget crisis, Thompson compared herself to the president and the criticisms level at him.”
“I feel like Barack Obama’s little sister right now,” she said.
~~~The Patriot-News, “Breaking News Harrisburg”
Linda said she feels like Obama’s little sister.
So she blamed all the debt on her predecessor as Mayor down there. And NO MORE criticism…or else!!!
Closed doors required NOW!
Jeez, some Mayors can’t even take a joke.
Hey Linda, that guy’s real name is not Danny Lucas, that’s a fake name.
And nothing was said about you feeling like Obama’s little sister.
Heck, nothing was said about the State Bird being the Ruffed Grouse, but it is starting to come up in Blogs I Watch. And, speaking of ruffed grouse, Linda……
P&T readers will just love this headline and story:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/02/mayor_thompson_expresses_outra.html
Ps. I thought that Lucas guy had some good suggestions for your budget meeting.
Pss. You guys have any radio piracy down there lately?
Happy Valentine’s Day, early,
Harrisburg BlogWatch
Danny,
I get the gist of your argument, but for God’s sake either get a fact-checker or hold yourself in check.
The true facts are bad enough.
Harrisburg’s debt is $288 million. That is not what it failed to pay. It missed payments of $3.5 million last year. It faces dept payments of about $68 million this year, which is more than its general fund budget.
Your numbers were off the wall. The correct numbers were readily available from numerous sources, including the Patriot-News..
Now I’m hoping you know better and it is your well refined sense of hyperbole, but just to set the record straight it would be darn hard for the city to sell state assets like the capital, auto fleet etc. I’m assuming you do know the difference between the municipal government and the state government. And by the way, who is going to plow the streets or fight the fires or keep the bad guys from you and yours if you fire all the employees.
Now, if you want to work the Erie Times-News into this for your own personal reasons, that’s fine. I think it is a bit absurd. I would not expect more than a solid wire-service story, which as you well know usually is a day or two behind.
I am increasingly tired of the mindless or at least thoughtless rants found on blogs and posts, etc. These are real problems and worthy of real thought.
Danny doesn’t need facts. He makes them up as he goes along. His rantings are worthless.
Dear John,
There is no reason to bring God into your response. He is busy enough with His own work, without having to supplement your contentions (erroneous I might add).
Per John: “Harrisburg’s debt is $288 million. That is [NOT] -my emphasis- what it failed to pay.”
Per John: (to Danny) “either get a fact-checker or hold yourself in check.”. Good advice for a John who fails to read articles with critical thinking skills.
Johnny, you attribute a quote to me that I did not make. The babe in Harrisburg is clear as can be:
“Carol Cocheres, bond counsel for the incinerator’s operator, the Harrisburg Authority, told the city council at a Dec. 14 hearing that the city is already in danger of legal action for payments [that were missed last year on $288 million in debt it has guaranteed with its full faith and credit]
Pay attention to the part between “[" and "]“.
“There’s never been a default like this in Pennsylvania municipal history,” she said. “This is all new territory.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You attribute a quote right out of Business Week to me.
Check your facts John. Why does Carol say “PAYMENTS THAT WERE MISSED LAST YEAR ON $288 MILLION DOLLARS”, use her full name, title, position….and then along comes “John”(no last name, status, or critical thinking skill” ,to declare “Not true; check your facts”.
In either case, you attribute the quote (FACT ON DEBT) to me…but the lovely Carol Cocheres said it.
How can you fail to read that, while maligning God simulataneously?
Municipal versus State stuff?
Let me spell it out for you John.
When bankruptcy occurs, assets are yielded to forego debts. If the Act 47 bankruptcy procedures are chosen and done in Harrisburg, the State owns the assets as well as the debts. (Surely every town in the State would follow too.)
Now, if they sell Harrisburg assets to recoup losses on the bankrupt debt, keep in mind that the State STILL has the debt not paid off, but does have alternate assets to come clean and equal. Things like the Capitol Building or other piddle items I mentioned.
With respect to THIS year in the city there, the entire operating budget is exceeded by ALL incoming property taxes. I am not going to repeat that here; it is in the story I linked and plain as day. If all 47,000 residents pay in full, the operating budget…..not the incinerator crapola…is $2 million in the hole ON TOP OF THE LAST YEAR missing $288 million.
But I guess the difference in approach is that I list some reasonable, and perhaps less than reasonable options for action…to a meeting then in session (all week).
The PA Legislature is abysmal in numbers and could easily be cut by a factor of 80%….less damage to all.
Goodness John, Nebraska runs on Unicameral, not Bicameral as we do. Less filling on the debt side.
I proposed a two year suspension of everything in my comment, albeit “till hell freezes over” could be misconstrued by someone who can not read the simple $288 million missed, and who actually said that fact.
With respect to your assertion on the ETN, they do not need me to point out their myriad foibles. Just this day, I read Phil English’ blog referring to “erratic Times-News” and surprisingly, the effervescent first comment refers to the “erratic Times-News” too.
I am hardly alone in view of the comment cutting, comment losing, non reporting entity we have locally.
Erratic is truly polite, and certainly not inclusive.
My reference is to the BizBuzz alone, and contrasts their importance of a local bank move, with the unprecendented bankruptcy of a city, nay THE CAPITAL, of Pennsylvania. I think the latter is more important.
Fire the people? I spoke of legislators, lawyers, judges, even the Governor, who has gutted the Key in Keystone, eh?
In the history of our country, cities have run fine without politicos, and can do so again. The people stepped up to the plate and did what needed done (including hosing the fire next door until extinguished).
The people work well together when needed.
As for passing ther buck from municipal to state level, maybe you are to young to recall Three Mile Island and making Amish farms radioactive for a while, almost melting our way to China. That STATE cost was passed to the federal level as I recall, so the intermingling of government levels is precedented. Mr. Habitat For Humanity Carter wore yellow boots and walked the Three Mile Island to show us he is glowingly cool. He never lifted a hammerto fix the place though.
Last, you mention fire, police, and essential workers for public safety type employees. Can’t see where I said get rid of them, but since you have not mentioned one iota of thought toward solving the problem, as I most certainly did, I support that suggestion by you and say adios to all of the above for two years until folks get some jobs, pay taxes, and we run as a state anew.
Will problems ensue?
Not in crime. Everyone in PA has a gun (Ok, John…not everyone) but enough own guns to take action against locals who need gunpowder to make a point.
Fires? Insured. Burn it down and rebuild.
Hazmat folks. We will miss you, especially if an underwear bomber pops by the state.
The Mayor is moaning it is all the predecessor’s fault. Well, she just got the job.
Of course it is the prior 18 year mayor who bungled the town.
But why did you run for mayor if you don’t think you can resolve issues, then, desire closed doors, point fingers, blame media and blogs, and present no resolution at all, except go belly up.
This is DEEP BACKGROUND area of P&T. Any topic is fair game. I do agree with you that far too many comments in far too many posts, in far too many venues, are mindless drivel. In all my years of commentary, I believe that the comments drive the blog, not the post.
So your job, John,…should you decide to accept the mission, is to
1) read a post
2) think it through critically
3) cut the knee jerk response
4) agree with what you agree
5) disagree at will
6) offer an alternative constructive thought as opposed to mindlessly attacking the writings of the factual guy above you.
And if I spoke on what I know in Harrisburg, decision making, etc. your jaw would drop. This was a puff piece.
Dear PR,
I am going to have to grade your comment an “F” for not reading the link as described to John already.
Further, what kind of PR reads my comments, if you believe them to be worthless? Says more about you than me, eh?
Just the other day, I got cut off twice in Mall traffic getting off 79 going south. I got passed on I-79 and immediately he brakes to Exit.
Bumper to bumper, and misaligned lights stopped all traffic. A guy who cut me off, then swerved right and cut the right lane guy off, THEN, went to the light at the Mall and turn LEFT in the right lane.
We all stopped over the bridge as the light changed and all were trapped anew. This guy angrily, left his car to move through lines and head toward me. I reached deep in the glove compartment, and slowly moved my hands to my lap as he approached. He stopped dead in his tracks as he watched that action, and then saw me lift a cell phone to take his license number, and an abandoned car in mid traffic (a hazard). He raced back to his car and we inched forward. Soon, I was next to him.
He glared at me and gave me the peace finger, but forgot to include one of the fingers of peace. I lifted my cell camera to record THAT behavior too, and he left.
Given your propensity to act like that fellow in every comment you make to me, I was wondering if that was you, PR. This audience is used to your mindskills, insights, and jarring thoughts.
Stay in your car when driving.
Stay in your mind when writing.
Peace to you.
I leave it up to you, as to the number of actual fingers I am using in my peace salute to you.
As Smokey says: “Only YOU can prevent PR attacks!”
It’s Evedent,and we always knew, that PR and some of these other People, don’t care about about what’s good for the Urban or inner City area. (89.5/90.1)provided a Non-Profit Service to there community without interferrence to any other Radio Stations Transmittion.
These Stations provided our community with Information, News,Positive Messages as well as instructons that would help to Up-Lift Our Community with the help of the magnitic atraction of Urban Music (Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel).
Yes, these people as you say, Took a stand to do for themselve’s and there community that you would have never done Mr. PR and Others that would welcome and rejoice in the shut down of these so-called Pirates.
You act as if you are the God of Media,News and Commentary, take a look in the Mirror, You might see a Slinking Devil to yourself and other.
It’s good to know that you don’t have the last say.
Peace
Danny,
Wow. I hardly know where to begin.
First, I quote directly from the second sentence of your first post:
“Only $64 million so far, and that pales not because we are 4 days into the second month, but because they forgot to pay $288 million LAST YEAR that was guaranteed in “full faith and credit”
Yes, you did say “forgot to pay $288 million LAST YEAR …” You did not say failed to make debt payments on $288 million last year. That’s a big difference, and one I would have expected a critical thinker to realize.
And you did not attribute the $288 million remark to anyone. You simply stated it as fact.
As for Act 47, it is not bankruptcy or a bankruptcy proceeding, although there are some similarities for the municipality. But to be sure, the state does not assume the municipal debt burden or the cost of municipal operations. However, I suppose the city could be in for a state bailout if the legislature so voted. Stranger things have happened in Pennsylvania.
I’m not going to try to refute you point by point where I see either error, or simply hyperbole. However, there are a couple more points I would like to make.
You stated (I hope at best as hyperbole): “Will problems ensue?
Not in crime. Everyone in PA has a gun (Ok, John…not everyone) but enough own guns to take action against locals who need gunpowder to make a point.”
Danny, that’s Somalia. I don’t want to live in Somalia. And I say that as someone who is probably far better prepared to live in such an environment than the average resident of the state.
Just so you know we are not in total disagreement, largely go along with this statement: “The PA Legislature is abysmal in numbers and could easily be cut by a factor of 80%….less damage to all. Goodness John, Nebraska runs on Unicameral, not Bicameral as we do”
Eighty percent might be a bit high (remember rural areas would end up having less of a voice as you reduce the size of the legislature.)
I will tell you that I think I have exhibited a great deal more critical thinking than you are showing in some of your posts, although I ‘m sure you will see it differently. Frankly, I believe you often mistake bombast for eloquence and/or critical thinking.
View this as constructive criticism.
Since such back and forth posts as this can go on ad infinitum I will prevent that from happening by letting you have the last and final word on this matter.
John
John,
You took the words out of my mouth,…and fairly.
And I took them out of the mouth of Carol Cocheres.
Her words appear in the Business Week article and link I provided, so the source is clear.
But the concept is not.
So I will reduce it here.
If I buy a $500,000 home and promise to pay $1,000 a month for however many years, plus interest, a contract has been set. If I now make no payments of $1,000 for 6 months, I am clearly in default and the place will be foreclosed, or I can go bankrupt and hope to gain better terms.
The DEFAULT does not change. The default is still $500,000.
Your concentration is on the missing 6 payments; mine is on the entire default of $500,000
(which is the $288 million that Cocheres and I speak about for Harrisburg). This is tomato or tomahto stuff.
Somalia? No. Pennsylvania and guns are synonymous from day one in the USA establishment. And one need only read the daily news in Erie, PA to see the vast amount of gun news this year to date. All of it negative, dangerous, fatal at times, and apparently growing, though I have no stats…just my opinion there. It does not look good that guns are grabbed first to resolve issues. I refer to here, not Somalia.
I recall a bank robber in Erie Labor Day weekend in the 1980′s escaping through Union City and Corry to the woods, off Rt 6. I was camping over the line in NY, and the State police moved all campers to a new site, while they helicoptered in darkness looking for this guy. How was he found?
A guy by Warren stuck a shotgun out his upper window and caught the guy. To wit, a citizen did it.
That is a very active phenomenon in our state to this day; lotsa guns in homes.
I am glad we agree that our legislative branch in Harrisburg is far too large, and if the little towns in the top of PA were allowed to vote solely on losing their representation, to rid the state of 8 out of 10 bodies representing us, who allow us to pay more for electricity, raising their pensions 25% (as a Ridge coax to pass laws), helping themself to raises at will, and running the state unlawfully without a budget for three months this last year…..well, I think they would vote to do away with that many. The rural folks are among the most pragmatic in the state.
Commentary is a funny thing. The written word can be misunderstood, as we all have varying backgrounds and beliefs, and prejudices.
So, I scooted back to see what others say on my comments, John….like this:
Dan Desrochers-candidate Erie County Council says:
November 3, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Danny
What a great post! You made me laugh out loud with the whole “scope” issue. I think political endorsements by the media as a whole are a bad idea. It shows they think they know more than the voters do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
And this one John:
kc says:
November 11, 2009 at 11:49 PM
danny it’s been a while since i have found the time to read blogs or at even the times. i enjoyed your blogs on judge domitrovitch and researched your other posts. you have a way of pointing out every aspect of a situation with sharp wit and sarcasm that i chuckle or say he’s right in original posts and responses to your detractors or uh oh haters. i am a mother of a 4 year old and work 45 hours a week so i catch up when i can and it better be stimulating…. i will continue to catch up on yours, read pat howard and the erie times letters to the editors. i am hooked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It appears that there are people who do not comment much here, but DO find value in my point of view, commentary, and the way I express it.
Over time, and over a variety of issues, I hope to see you changed in view, and become among those folks.
You have an open and receptive mind, not predisposed to knee jerk response.
Either way, I am grateful that you have expressed your points with civility, and lack of personal attack.
Several blogs have bit the dust in our area for just that reason.
Press and Tower walks the line at times on personal attack by many, to many, but is still attracting notice from around the globe on Feedjit.
Though you promised this would be the last word on the above topic, I hope that you re-engage on issues important to you and this audience.
I personally favor the issue of New Media, and the inability of our local media to embrace it and do it.
Broadband deception in our town is of great interest to me too. We do not have what other areas have; businesses laugh at the very first venture into town.
Idiocy Broadband service prevents our growth.
Western States actually employ a sizeable part of towns by individuals with no degree, but Broadband, linking to Korea and teaching English to the Koreans from home.
We could do that from Erie to around the globe if we had Broadband universal around here.
There is so much possibility for business in this town if we could catch the top of the wave instead of curling and crashing with miserable Broadband. Another day for that.
Last word for you John, is the two fingered salute kind:
PEACE!
Danny