a1782: Haitian broadcasters blast pirate stations (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

Haitian broadcasters blast pirate stations

http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=73

by Macollvie Jean-François
Haitian Times, 23 April 2002

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on April 15 that
its investigation led to the arrest of Paul Dorleans, an unlicensed
radio station operator in Brooklyn.

The action has elicited positive reactions from legal radio station
owners on the FCC's efforts to crack down on pirate stations.

The FCC is the government agency responsible for regulating interstate
and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite
and cable. Its Enforcement Bureau conducted the investigation that led
to the arrest of Dorleans, who used 87.9 FM to broadcast.

"Prior enforcement actions had failed to deter Mr. Dorleans' unlicensed
operation of the FM station," according to a FCC statement. "The FCC, on
more than one occasion, had issued notices to Mr. Dorleans directing him
to cease operation of the unlicensed station."

The report said the U.S. Marshals Service, which made the arrest, seized
Dorleans' radio equipment on one previous occasion. Calls to the U.S.
Attorney General's office, which is handling Dorleans' case, went
unanswered.

FCC crackdowns on pirate stations have become a regular occurrence over
the years, but have not been enough to deter unlicensed radio operators.

In Brooklyn, many stations operated by Haitian businessmen have been
closed down in recent years, sources said. One source said about 18
Haitian illegal stations were on the air about two years ago, an
unprecedented number, said a New York-based radio station owner who
declined to be identified.

While the broadcast of an AM news station could be heard very faintly
and with a lot of static on 87.9 FM, it was not on New York Radio
Guide's list of FM stations.

At least 15 illegal stations are operating in southern Florida, said
Rudolph Moise, president and chief executive officer of Radio Carnivale,
which began airing in South Florida this year. The station is registered
under WRHB-AM 1020.

"We have a lot of pirate stations," Moise said. "The FCC closes them
down and they open again the next day."

While at a conference of the National Association of Radio Broadcasters
held in Las Vegas April 7-12, Moise said he spoke to FCC officials, who
also advised him to inform the Attorney General's office of his
concerns.

Four Brooklyn Haitians said the FCC is right in closing down illegal stations.

"We're living in the United States. We're supposed to follow the laws
that the country has in place," said Carl St. Amand, a tire shop owner.

St. Amand said people who mount unlicensed stations are doing a
disservice to the community. He said they tend to be disrespectful in
their contents by allowing callers to use profanity and debate
irrelevant issues.

Renan Saint Ilmon, a frequent traveler between the United States and
Haiti, said, "The radio (stations) are in disorder."

The existence of unlicensed stations has caused interference not only on
the listeners' dials, but also with the financial profits of licensed
stations.

Moise said legal stations lose advertising revenue, although small, to
the cheaper rates of pirate stations. He said pirate stations cause the
skewing of the licensed stations ratings since their waves carry away
some of the licensed stations' listeners.

Also, Moise said, it is unfair to legal station owners who pay millions
of dollars in fees and other startup expenses. The illegal stations take
advantage of frequencies that they do not pay for. Moise said it costs
$150,000 to $200,000 a month to operate Carnivale, which will celebrate
its first-year anniversary May 18.

Supporters of unlicensed stations blame the Telecommunications Act of
1996, which permitted consolidations. They say the pirate stations cater
to the need for diversity in radio.

"Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed, the quality of
commercial broadcasting has dropped badly," Paul Griffin stated in an
article in the Wash. Free Press. "This deregulation by Congress has led
to a huge consolidation in the broadcast industry. The net effect is the
radio has no diversity now."

However much some listeners appreciate the variety in sound bites, the
FCC may apply penalties of up to $11,000 per violation and, by court
order, seize all radio equipment being used, as well as ordering owners
to cease operation. If convicted, operators may be fined $100,000 and be
sentenced to up to one year in prison.