They are also upping the ante in a national battle over micropower. Up until now, the micropower movement has followed the lead of Free Radio Berkeley's Stephen Dunifer, who has used the courts to evade the feds for the past five years. Last November, a federal judge rejected the FCC's request for an injunction against Dunifer's station for the second time. Instead, she ordered the FCC to respond to Dunifer's claim that the government's licensing criteria are unconstitutional. There are now more than 1000 mircrobroadcasters, up from 300 a few years ago.
Cheap technology is another key element fuelling the spread of micropower.
STR built its own antenna with plumbing parts. The movement is also gathering steam over the Internet, which allows pirates to share info and download audio files from around the country. They may not all share a common political outlook, but microradio enthusiasts agree that FCC rules are designed to benefit big corporations at the expense of local communities. According to Perry, the FCC's licensing process is so complex, it effectively preempts small broadcasters. The biggest obstacle, however, is the government's refusal to license stations that operate below 100 watts.