I noted at least seven pirate radio loggings here in North America on Wednesday, October 1–the first day of the US government shutdown. This is a remarkable number of pirate loggings for a weekday night.
I then saw a message from Ragnar Daneskjold, pointing to the FCC’s printed plan for an “Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations” and this quote, in particular:
“FCC activities other than those immediately necessary for the protection of life or property will cease.”
So I’m sure, as one SWLing Post reader pointed out, pirates will “play while the (FCC) cat is away.”
During the US government shutdown, expect extra pirate activity weekday nights between 6920-6970 kHz.
Click here to read other items related to the US government shutdown.
I should note that most pirates are aware that FCC enforcement now uses phased or networked SDRs (Software Defined Radios) to locate pirates and other “harmful interference.”
I suppose it’s possible that these SDRs could be recording in the absence of their operators for future evaluation. With that said, I’m doubtful any FCC employee who has been sent home in the wake of this shutdown would try to go “above and beyond the call of duty.”
This is, indeed, probably a safe(r) time for pirates to play.