Black liberation radio: A case study of free radio micro‐broadcasting

This case study examines the development of Mbanna Kantako's free radio micro‐broadcasting movement as a policy vehicle for promoting greater minority ownership of and expression within broadcast media. For over 7 years, Kantako, who is visually impaired, has resisted attempts by state and federal authorities to stop his low‐power broadcasts to residents of Springfield, Illinois. Kantakos desire to test the constitutional limits of FCC broadcast ownership and licensing policies leads in this article to an examination of current FCC policies affecting minority ownership of radio. Although progress can be demonstrated, the proportion of minority owners relative to their distribution throughout society remains low. Free radio micro‐broadcasting and other alternatives to the FCC's current policies are briefly examined. As participants in a social movement, Kantako and his followers appear poised for the next stage of their movement's evolution.

Key terms:

• Mbanna Kantako
• FCC
• free radio
• pirate radio
• micro‐radio
• micro‐broadcasting movement
• minority ownership
• frequency sharing
• local‐origination audio.