Abstract
This paper examines the extent and content of pirate radio broadcasting in the United States. While it is assumed that unlicensed broadcasts provide an alternative to commercial radio broadcasts, such broadcasts do not offer a substantially alternative form of programming. They rely on popular music that is often programmed on licensed, commercial radio, and they rarely program music other than pop and rock ‘n’ roll. As a result, this study claims it is spectrum use and access the FCC seeks to control, and not content.
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