[Noisebridge-discuss] Pirates to Rule as of Midnight?

[Jake]

tl;dr the FCC is furloughed because of the budget chicken-game so there's 
no one to stop you from setting up a pirate broadcast.

however, they didn't stop you before either (unless your station was super 
unpopular with a particular political figure) so you should just stop 
talking about it and do it already.  if you want.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Austin Airwaves has received a number of inquiries that lead
us to believe that any number of unlicensed radio operations may
sign on the air at 12:01AM this evening, as all non-essential
enforcement activities by the FCC will cease at that time. 
Specifically, Enforcement Officers [names deleted here] with
the FCC's Houston office will be furloughed, we believe. 
Calls to the Houston office roll over to an answering machine,
suggesting that urgent/law enforcement matters be directed to
the WDC offices.

Disclaimer:
Austin Airwaves does not operate unlicensed radio facilities.
We do follow the so-called 'free radio' movement and have
reported on a number of 'pirate' stations being taken down
by the Houston FCC office. 

Such as: http://kaosradioaustin.org/node/32295

Austin Airwaves welcomes inquiries from 'free radio'
operators at this time.

FCC Enforcement Bureau Field Offices are responsible for investigating
violations of the Commission's technical rules by licensees, antenna structure
owners, and radio operators.

"Generally, during a shutdown all FCC activities other than those immediately
necessary for the protection of life or property will cease. Suspended activities include,
among many others: Consumer complaint and inquiry phone lines can not be answered; 
consumer protection and local competition enforcement must cease; licensing services,
including broadcast, wireless, and wire line, must cease; management of radio spectrum and
the creation of new opportunities for competitive technologies and services for the American
public must be suspended; and equipment authorizations, including those bringing new
electronic device s to American  consumers, can not be provided..." [more]

Free the Airwaves?