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Sheriffs Deputies Silence Un-License Haitian Radio Station in Tampa

By KEITH MORELLI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Oct 14, 2006

TAMPA - The weak radio signal that carried the spicy and flavorful sounds of Haitian Creole music came to a white-noise end late Thursday night, as authorities pulled the plug on the broadcast and jailed the DJ.

The music emanated from a small transmitter tucked inside an apartment north of Tampa. The signal, at 89.3 FM, didn't travel far.

But it was heard, indirectly, by federal communications regulators who received a complaint about the unlicensed station.

Charged with making an unauthorized transmission of a radio broadcast - a third-degree felony - was 20-year-old Marjorie Voltaire. She was arrested about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies, armed with a Federal Communications Commission complaint and a search warrant, stopped by Voltaire's home at 13410 La Place Circle, Apt. 127, while music was being aired, they said.

The unemployed native of Haiti was held on $2,000 bail. Voltaire declined to be interviewed Friday.

"She was doing fairly regular transmissions," said sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said. "It was just music, Creole music. She was providing entertainment for Creole music fans, but without a license."

Seized was about $10,000 worth of broadcasting equipment, including an antenna and electronic gear. From outside the apartment, Callaway said, the antenna looked like any other television dish.

The monthlong investigation continued Friday, he said, and other people might be arrested.

In 2004, Florida passed a radio-piracy law that made it a felony to operate a radio station without a license. The law was favored by commercial broadcasters and provided a way for local law enforcement to shut down "pirate" stations.

The FCC in recent years, however, has been under pressure by some members of Congress to allow more low-power broadcasters on the air, particularly in cities. The commission issued licenses for about 600 such stations in rural areas from 2000 to 2005.

Detractors of the low-power, unlicensed stations say they can jam licensed stations on the same frequencies and jeopardize public safety in the event of major emergencies.

Proponents of low-power stations say licenses should not be so difficult and expensive to acquire. They say airwaves belong to the people and that a variety of low-power outlets provide a valuable service, including diversity in music and news commentary.

Locally, pirate radio stations rise and fall based on who has money to buy transmitters and whether they can afford to keep them running.

They broadcast mostly from undisclosed locations, often from spare rooms in their homes or from college campuses. They don't want to draw the attention of government officials who can bring criminal charges.

Equipment costs can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

In Florida, dozens of private radio broadcasters send signals into the air, mostly on weekends.