Portland Radio Authority

Summary

Portland Radio Authority (PraRadio) was a listener supported pirate radio station originally broadcasting from a mobile, 100-watt transmitter in Portland, Oregon. Listeners and musicians were encouraged to send tracks to the station, with or without a recording contract, and PraRadio would add the music to its mix.[1] The station operated illegally from May 2002 until March 2006, when the U.S. Federal Communications Commission ended the transmissions.[2]

Portland Radio Authority
Frequency96.7 MHz
Programming
FormatIndie rock, Garage rock, Event broadcasting, Talk radio
History
First air date
May 10, 2002 (2002-05-10)
Last air date
March 1, 2006[note 1]
Technical information
Power100 Watts
Links
Websitewww.praradio.org

PraRadio continued to broadcast as an Internet radio station until late September 2013.[3] Over 50 volunteer deejays in weekly two-hour shows featured a variety of music and programming.[4]

PraRadio sponsored a series of benefit concerts to raise money for the station,[5][6] but eventually the costs of operating the station outpaced revenues, and Portland Radio Authority went silent in 2013.[3]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The station ceased transmitting, but it continued as an Internet radio station until 2013.

References edit

  1. ^ Bartlett, Serena (2009). GrassRoutes Portland: An Urban Eco Guide. Seattle: Sasquatch Books. ISBN 9781570616723.
  2. ^ Baumgarten, Mark (March 8, 2006). "Shipwrecked: The FCC sinks Portland's radio pirates' signal". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: Richard Meeker. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Ham, Robert (September 20, 2013). "After 10 Years, Portland Radio Authority Goes Silent". Willamette Week. Portland, Oregon: Richard Meeker. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  4. ^ Deitz, Corey (October 13, 2011). "The Portland Radio Authority..." Pyramid Beach. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Skinner, Marjorie (February 26, 2004). "Pirate (Radio) Party". The Portland Mercury. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Burnett, Mike (October 12, 2008). "Portland Radio Authority Fundraiser / Show Tonight". Describe The Ruckus. Lauren Hudgins, Mike Burnett. Retrieved August 26, 2014.

External links edit

  • Portland Radio Authority on Myspace
  • PraRadio goodbye note
  • Alison Pezanoski-Browne playlist in "Launch of The Neon Vernacular on Portland Radio Authority"