Broadcast area Santa Cruz, California First air date Spring 1995 ERP 200 watts | Branding Free Radio Santa Cruz Format Freeform | |
Frequency 101.3 (MHz) (formerly 101.1 MHz, 96.3MHz and 89.3MHz) | ||
Free Radio Santa Cruz (FRSC) is an unlicensed radio station in Santa Cruz, California, United States. The station has been on the air since Spring, 1995; its broadcast content is a mix of daily news, music, and cultural programs, produced both locally and nationally.
Because FRSC does not have a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the station is in open violation of US federal regulations. Free Radio Santa Cruz allows individuals in the community to have their own shows, and encourages participation through donations, membership in the broadcasting collective, and calling in live during shows.
On September 29, 2004, the station was raided by agents of the FCC, backed by federal marshals armed with assault rifles. No arrests were made, but the agents shut down the station and physically seized nearly all of the equipment, including the transmitter, computers, mixing boards, microphones, headphones, CD players, and CDs. The equipment was never returned.
However, with a strong showing of community support, the station was streaming online again within 48 hours and transmitting at 101.1 FM less than a month after the raid. FRSC continues to stream and broadcast 24 hours a day. As of October 2011, the station is broadcasting on 101.3 MHz.