Unlicensed radio stations are spreading and the media watchdog isn't happy, writes Drew Rooke.
Andrew Drysdale is no average pirate. As an information technology specialist, he used his talents to hijack the radio waves, setting up an unlicensed, fully operational radio station out of his Chatswood home.
"Back in the 1990s, I listened to a station called New Wave FM, which played dance music and got live DJs to play on air. I wanted to create something like that, so I set up ABD Radio," Mr Drysdale said.
"It really was a lot of fun until I was shut down in December."
Now associated with the European electronic music scene, pirate radio has helped to popularise many underground music genres, such as drum and bass, dubstep and garage.
And the pirate radio waves have expanded as an increasing number of unlicensed radio stations are being discovered throughout Australia.
Shannon Lee, the operator of a pirate radio station in Queensland and administrator of an online Facebook group named Australian Pirate Radio, says pirate radio is active everywhere.
"I have people on my group from all over Australia, in major cities and a lot in small towns," he said.
"Most radio pirates are doing it just to supply new types of music."
The Australian Communications and Media Authority, the government agency responsible for the regulation of radio communications pursued five cases between 2009 and 2011 involving the operation of unlicensed radio stations across Australia. The authority suspects there are many more.
"It's certainly possible that there are many more pirates operating that we don't know about," said Stephen Allen, the manager of the authority's field operations.
"These pirates are knowingly doing something wrong ... quite often the frequency they are using belongs to someone else, which causes interference. For the person who owns the affected frequency, this is very unfair."
In order to own a frequency, amateur radio operators must obtain a $2000 low-power open narrowcasting service from the authority. This service allows niche radio broadcasting to a limited area of reception. But some radio pirates claim this licence system is flawed.
Mr Drysdale, who started broadcasting in June last year, said he twice tried to get a narrowcasting licence so he could broadcast.
"I was rejected both times because someone else close by had already bought a LPON licence for the available frequency. But that station does not transmit anything and it is just dead air," he said.
Mr Drysdale said he had complained to the authority numerous times about the station not using their transmitter but there had been no action taken.
"After all of this, I decided to go ahead and set up my pirate [radio] station. I knew it was illegal and had done lots of research about it but the ACMA hadn't helped me at all," he said.
ACMA said the LPON system is fair for the majority of people and the authority enforces a "use it or lose it" policy.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What is pirate radio or an unlicensed radio station in Australia?
Pirate radio refers to unlicensed radio stations that hijack the airwaves without formal approval. The article profiles operators like Andrew Drysdale, who set up a fully operational unlicensed station from his home, and explains that these stations operate outside the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s licensing system.
Why are unlicensed radio stations becoming more common across Australia?
The article says pirate radio activity is spreading nationwide. Operators and online communities such as the Australian Pirate Radio Facebook group report members from major cities and small towns, and ACMA suspects there are more pirates operating than those it has detected.
How can pirate radio stations affect licensed broadcasters and frequencies?
According to ACMA field operations manager Stephen Allen, pirate broadcasts often use frequencies that belong to someone else, which causes interference and is unfair to the licensed owner. That interference can disrupt transmission for legitimate broadcasters on the affected frequency.
What enforcement action has the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) taken against pirate radio?
The article states ACMA pursued five cases involving unlicensed radio operations between 2009 and 2011 and says the authority enforces a "use it or lose it" policy for licences. ACMA also believes there are likely many more unlicensed stations that haven’t been identified.
What is a low-power open narrowcasting (LPON) licence and how much does it cost?
An LPON licence is a low-power open narrowcasting service that allows niche radio broadcasting to a limited reception area. The article notes an LPON licence costs about $2,000 and is the formal way for operators to legally own a local frequency.
Why do some broadcasters choose to run pirate stations instead of getting an LPON licence?
The article gives Andrew Drysdale’s example: he tried twice to secure an LPON licence but was rejected because a nearby party already held the available frequency and wasn’t transmitting ("dead air"). After complaints to ACMA produced no action, he set up an illegal station to broadcast the music he wanted to share.
How has pirate radio influenced music and niche broadcasting in Australia?
Pirate radio has been linked with the European electronic music scene and helped popularise underground genres such as drum and bass, dubstep and garage. Many pirate operators say their motivation is to supply new types of music that aren’t readily available on mainstream stations.
What should everyday investors in media or communications know about the pirate radio issue?
The article highlights a few investor-relevant points: unlicensed stations are expanding and can cause interference to licensed services; ACMA enforces licences and has pursued enforcement cases; and the LPON licence system exists with a roughly $2,000 cost and a "use it or lose it" policy. These regulatory and interference issues are factors that can affect licensed broadcasters and the broader radio landscape.
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