Now that the FCC has identified Marshall Jones as operating a radio station without a license, he is telling his story to Erie’s mainstream media.
Last night on WJET/WFXP, John Treanor reported a package on Jones where they showed that he continues to operate the station with a computer, some microphones and a transmitter connected to a small mast at the top of a building in Erie’s Little Italy neighborhood. Despite the possiblity of major penalties, Treanor reports that Jones is determined to continue with 90.1 The Movement:
But Jones, a former Super Soul Saturday DJ, tells us he can’t stop – if he’s not on air, a whole genre would disappear in the city.
“The question always remained, why don’t we have this 24 hours a day, what do we have to do to do it and basically I went ahead and said let’s see what happens, you know what I mean,” says Jones…
…Jones is staying on air as long as he can before getting fined – his dream is to make the movement legal.
“I have to I have to go forward and see what it is that has to be done to make this happen,” Jones says.
This morning (Thursday), David Bruce continues his reporting on the pirate radio stations in the Times-News, complete with pictures of Jones’s operation. Bruce describes the chain of events leading to the sign-on:
A club disc jockey and former announcer at Gannon University’s
WERG-FM, Jones said that he started broadcasting in October because there wasn’t enough urban music being played in Erie.
“Blacks, whites, Hispanics all had a major concern about the type of music played in Erie 24/7,” Jones said. “It was my mission to get this station up and running.”
Jones said that he started broadcasting at the low-frequency limits, then increased power.
“The response from people was so strong that I just turned it up,” Jones said. “Then someone ratted me out to the FCC.”
One problem was that Jones’ signal was intruding on the signals of other, licensed, radio stations, said A.J. Miceli, who oversees WERG as Gannon University’s chairman of theater, communications and fine arts.
What’s a little frightening to me is that the FCC doesn’t need any more incentive to fine these guys; once they find a unlicensed station and cite it, the breaking of Federal law has already occurred. If you happen to have a kindly Enforcement Agent who will write you a warning first, it’s wise to take that as a blessing and not push the issue. We’ll keep watching this unfold.
February 22nd, 2010 
joel 
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Deep Background for February 7-13, 2010
Without a lot of help from me, the readers and commenters here on P&T engaged to another 3,000+ page views this week. Thanks!
On this atypical, relaxing Sunday morning, I have to gush about how much I enjoy the Sunday morning newspaper reading experience. I know that the Erie Times-News gets a lot of criticism from these pixels and other inked spaces, real and virtual. But for me, as I learn about my surroundings from what I call “the everyday miracle” of a published newspaper, my pleasure synapses fire.
This morning, my first read was the Page 1A cover story about the rise of truancy in our city and county. Next, I shared with my wife the snowfall totals in DC, Philly and Baltimore…it’s funny how much glee we Erieites receive when others get buried with snow! A weekly must read for me is the Pat Howard column, who’s cranky take on most issues seems quite reasonable to me. Finally, it’s onto the Editorial pages, where this week the Board has established it’s Agenda 2010.
Do I agree with it all? Certainly not! Do they get it right every time, or do they always keep their bias hidden? No way. But the voice of the Erie Times-News is as valid as any other, and the millions of dollars they invest in newsprint and bandwidth continues to be a cataylist for making Erie “A Better Place.”
Your responses welcome here on this open forum, or email or tweet me.
Embrace the chaos!