List of American shortwave broadcasters

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Among the nations of the world, the USA is unique in that it has allowed private ownership of non-commercial shortwave stations that are not relays of existing MW or FM radio stations, as are common in Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Latin America. Most privately owned shortwave stations have been religious broadcasters, either wholly owned and programmed by Roman Catholic and evangelical Protestant charities or offering brokered programming consisting primarily of religious broadcasters. To better reach other continents of the world, several stations are located in far-flung US territories.

1 Religious and political extremism on shortwave radio
2 Non-religious private broadcasters
3 Pirate radio
4 Notable personalities
5 Shortwave stations
6 External links

[edit] Religious and political extremism on shortwave radio

American shortwave stations have been criticized for airing brokered programming that tends to be extremist Christian fundamentalism or radical right wing politically-oriented. For example, various shows aired in 2005 and 2006 alleged vast conspiracies involving such groups and organizations as the Federal Reserve System, Jews, and the Catholic Church. At the same time, it should be noted that shortwave stations present an opportunity for freedom of expression not found in other more highly regulated mediums.

A few of these programs are openly racist in nature. Much of the programming emanating from American stations is also presented in English and is clearly intended for a domestic audience.

The FCC has historically frowned on shortwave radio broadcasts intended for a domestic audience, but since the early 1990s has shown little interest in regulating the shortwave bands. This laissez-faire FCC attitude coupled with the low cost of airtime has increased the popularity of leasing SW transmission capacity among some religious and political radicals.

[edit] Non-religious private broadcasters

The logo of WBCQ, a non-religious private shortwave radio station.

While most private shortwave broadcasters in the United States are operated by religious groups or carry mostly religious programming, there have also been attempts at starting non-religious shortwave stations.

Two such stations were WRNO in New Orleans and KUSW in Salt Lake City, both of them with a rock and roll music format. Both stations were well received by shortwave listeners, but could not make the format successful in the long run. KUSW wound up being sold to the Trinity Broadcasting Network and is now religious broadcaster KTBN. WRNO kept its rock & roll format going for most of the 1980s but eventually switched formats to selling brokered airtime to political and religious broadcasts, suffered a damaged transmitter, and eventually ceased broadcasting altogether following the death of its owner, Joe Costello.

A notable exception is WBCQ, a non-religious private station operated by Allan Weiner in Maine. WBCQ has been a success by brokering much of their airtime to religious programs like Brother Stair, while also carrying some music and entertainment programs.

[edit] Pirate radio

Numerous pirate radio stations have operated sporadically in or just outside the shortwave broadcast bands. Most are operated by hobbyists for the amusement of DX'ers with broadcasts typically only a few hours in length.

Few American pirates are political or controversial in their programming. Pirates have tended to cluster in unofficial "pirate bands" based on the current schedules of licensed shortwave stations and the retuning of amateur radio transmitters to operate outside the "ham" radio bands.

Most pirate activity takes place on weekends or holidays, Halloween and April Fools Day being traditional favorites of pirates. Most broadcasts are only a few minutes to a few hours at a time. One notable exception was Radio Newyork International, a short-lived attempt to establish a permanent broadcasting station operating from international waters.

Some European nations have recently begun allowing privately owned shortwave stations on a far more limited scale.