[HCDX] UK: Ofcom scuppered 61 pirate broadcasters in 2007

["Paul" <format4nz@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Register » Comms »
Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/28/ofcom_and_the_pirates/

Ofcom scuppered 61 pirate broadcasters in 2007

By Bill Ray

Published Thursday 28th February 2008 07:02 GMT

Sixty-one people were prosecuted for illegally broadcasting in the UK during 
the 2006/7 financial year, according to Ofcom's latest figures 
(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/enforcement/pstats/stats0607).
One of those got off the charges, with the rest copping fines of about 
£7,000 between them plus £21,000 in costs. Six convictions for dodgy CE 
marking brought in another £11,500 in fines, and one CB user got hit for 
£50.

Part of Ofcom's remit is to prevent unauthorised use of the spectrum it 
licenses, generally in response to complaints from legitimate licence 
holders. Ofcom said last year it received 1,300 cases of interference, of 
which more than 80 "were impacting upon key safety of life services".

The UK regulator last week 
(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/19/london_pirates/) announced a it had 
shut the door on 22 illegal broadcasters in London.

Fining pirate stations and confiscating their equipment clearly isn't 
working, and no matter how much Ofcom claims they are interfering with 
life-saving services people continue to listen to them - so targeting the 
advertisers might seem worth a try.

In the latest crackdown Ofcom wrote to 20 nightclubs to let them know they 
were breaking the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006. When pushed, however, they 
admitted they've never actually prosecuted anyone for it (though they have 
asked for specific events to be pulled with some success).

Talking to the pirates, it seems that such an action would be of limited 
value anyway - they make their money from charging DJs for the air-time, 
though none of the pirates we spoke to were making a living out of it.

When it comes to interference it seems the quality of the equipment is what 
matters. One ex-regulator told us that most of the kit is pretty idiot-proof 
these days: "Transmitter modules are readily available from suppliers such 
as Veronica and Broadcast
Warehouse. They are easily assembled and connected and the audio side is 
quite straightforward; however antennas are not plug 'n play and this is 
where knowledge is required and problems arise."

Obviously, badly set up kit could be transmitting on any frequency, or a 
whole range of frequencies - though several readers pointed out that such 
circumstances are not in the interests of the pirate, who will be quickly 
tracked and shut down.
Such tracking will only find the transmitter, housed on top of a tall 
building or (as is increasingly the case) strapped to the side of a 
mobile-phone cell tower where the power supply is more standard and the 
security lower. Much of the illegal activity of the pirates consists of the 
way in which they gain access to, and steal power from, these installations.

Investigators will then try to track down the studio, which will have line 
of sight to the transmitter for a microwave connection. If the studio is 
found, people can be arrested and equipment seized. Some of those arrested 
will get an official caution or conditional discharge (41 of the 61 
prosecuted last year), though many will never get charged. We asked Ofcom 
for the number of arrests last year, for comparison, but it's been unable to 
provide us with an answer.

As for the stories of booby-trapping equipment to prevent its removal, the 
pirates tell us that such activity is generally designed to prevent other 
pirate stations from nicking their transmitters. Such looting is, 
apparently, endemic in London, and hardly something they can report to the 
police.

In fact, competition between the illegal broadcasters seems to be the root 
of much of the violence associated with pirate radio, as evidenced by the 
seizure of knives and even firearms from pirate-radio studios - not 
something the Radio Caroline crowd would have endorsed.

Interference from pirate radio stations could be eliminated through better 
education, or equipment, but the competition issue isn't going to go away. 
Handing out fines and cautions isn't having much of an impact either, but 
technology could make the problem simply disappear. All of the pirate radio 
stations we spoke to are also streamed over the internet, and with mobile 
data moving towards more sensible pricing the need for FM infrastructure is 
rapidly disappearing.

Should a significant proportion of the population move to DAB radio the 
pirates could well find themselves priced out of the market, forced onto the 
mobile internet. It will be interesting to see how many continue with their 
vocation when it ceases to have the kudos of being illegal. ® 

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