Steal This Radio
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Steal This Radio (STR) was a pirate radio station based in New York City with roots in the local squatter community. The 12-watt station broadcast at 88.7 FM starting in November 1995.[1]
In May 1995, police evicted squatters in two Lower East Side buildings at 541 and 545 East 13th Street.[2][3] A member of the squatter community who uses the name Queequeg was inspired by Radio Free Berkeley and worked with another squatter who was also a HAM radio enthusiast, Fast Forward, to set up Steal This Radio. Fast Forward set up much of the technical infrastructure for about $500.[2]
At the time it was broadcasting, the FCC had not issued licenses to broadcasters transmitting at under 100 watts since 1978, and all available frequencies in Manhattan had already been issued.[2] Steal This Radio broadcast at 12 watts using equipment considerably cheaper than that which would be necessary for 100 watts.[2]
For two years of its operation it broadcast from a Lower East Side squat. Other times, to avoid getting caught, organizers frequently moved the site of broadcasting, transporting all of its equipment to different locations each week and setting up the transmitter anew.[2][4]