Radio Free America Key Dates

Radio Free America - Key Dates

5th July 1973	The FCC, frustrated by Carl McIntire's continued flouting of the fairness rule decided to close both his WXUR radio stations, ostensibly for failing to keep regular station logs.
28th August 1973	The Columbus took up position in international waters off Cape May, New Jersey.
12th September 1973	Shortly before midnight a test carrier signal was transmitted from the Columbus.
13th September 1973	Just after 1.30am the first music was broadcast from Radio Free America. However, this test transmission only lasted half an hour due to technical problems with equipment which caused a fire on the ship.
14th September 1973	The Columbus broke from her anchor and was forced to enter port for repairs and to have a new anchor installed.
15th September 1973	Although the new anchor could not be fitted immediately the Columbus left port and sailed into international waters along the New Jersey coast.
16th September 1973	Radio Free America made a further four hour test broadcast while the ship was sailing up and down the coastline during the early morning. Later that same day the Columbus entered port to have her new anchor fitted .
19th September 1973	The Columbus was back at sea transmitting programmes for Radio Free America - official programmes started at 12.23pm. A few hours after official programmes had started the FCC announced that they had received a complaint of interference from station WHLW in Lakewood, New Jersey. There were also technical problems which were threatening to cause a fire on board Columbus. Carl McIntire closed Radio Free America at 10.15pm.
20th September 1973	Following an application by the FCC, a Federal Court in Camden, New Jersey issued a temporary Restriction Order prohibiting Radio Free America from transmitting again.

22nd February 1974

The temporary Restriction Order on Radio Free America was made permanent.

1974

1973

10th July 1973

The Bahamas gain full independence within the British Commonwealth of Nations.

2nd August 1973

A flash fire killed 51 people at the Summerland Leisure Centre on the Isle of Man.

2nd September 1973 Libya announces the nationalisation of 51% of the assets of the oil companies operating in the country.

11th September 1973 President Salvadore Allende of Chile was toppled in a bloody military coup in Santiago.

25th September 1973 The three-man crew of the U.S. space laboratory Skylab Two splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after spending 59 days in orbit.

28th February 1974 Labour won the British parliamentary election, but no party had an overall majority resulting in a hung parliament.

History

Key Dates

Ship and Location

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