Radio Free Night City

Radio Free Night City is a dedicated group of juves that run a pirate radio station. They broadcast eclectic mixes of new and classic music, an uncensored news show and live audio feeds from various corporate sources. The group uses hidden radio transmitters and virtuality pickup sites so those “In the Know” can pickup the station almost anywhere in Night City. The location of their main broadcast site is a closely guarded secret that even CorpSec hasn’t discovered yet. From time to time they manage to locate and destroy one of the stations remote transmitters, but the station just replaces them in new locations. Since the group only broadcasts on FM frequencies, a borderline archaic technology, it is a low priority for even CorpSec. Even though they broadcast subversive information, banned music and anti-corporate propaganda Network 54 believes that no one is even listening. Boy are they wrong!

Radio Free Night City is one of the most popular underground broadcasts in the city. The archaic nature of the technology is what makes it appealing to the masses. Almost anyone can get a FM radio, heck some Tinkertots can make one from spare parts in their pockets, so anyone can pickup the signal and tune in. Also FM radios can be small and easily hidden or ditched if the situation arises. Which is a definite advantage considering that listening to “subversive material” is a class a misdemeanor punishable by six months in a re-education facility. If you don’t want to take the risk of listening to a live broadcast there are several virtuality sites where you can download compressed audio files of the previous days broadcast. You can also access a database of memorable broadcasts from the station’s archive. One of the most popular downloads was a streaming audio feed from the VP of Arasaka’s office as he spent an hour with a paid dominatrix. The station lost three transmitters and one of it’s download sites for that broadcast, but their still rocking.

Truthfully RFNC is the work of three local gangs working together. Most of the work is done by the RFNC Vidiots. They take care of the day-to-day operations and provide all of the on air talent. There are about fifteen of them manning the station in three shifts so programming is going out 24 hours a day. A shop of Tinkertots called Tech Level 8 does the technical work. TL8 builds the stations remote transmitters and all of the covert listening equipment used for the live corporate feeds. They have also begun building micro FM receivers that are camouflaged as normal personal gear. The last group that makes up the RFNC family is a BeverBrat gang called Latchkey Kids. They are responsible for most of the stations clandestine activities such as placing covert listening devices or stealing information for news broadcasts.

The main body of RFNC’s programming schedule is music shows. The station has an extensive audio library that contains everything from the latest Silverhand bootlegs to the protest rock songs of the 1960s. Almost all of the music has been banned by the ISA and would be destroyed if it were ever captured. There are several DJs that run in three to four hour blocks with news briefs once every hour. The station devotes a full hour to news at 5pm that focuses on news relevant to the city’s youth. It includes information on areas that are seeing high CorpSec or BuReloc activity, local yogang activity and a news feed from the Eden Cabal. The station will also interrupt its regular programming for “Breaking News” in the event of a CorpSec raid, a surprise BuReloc roundup or if something really juicy comes over the boardroom feeds. 10pm to 12am is reserved for the corporate audio feeds. The station records all day and edit down the good parts to a two-hour best of show. Unfortunately the station does not do any radio call in shows since it could allow CorpSec to trace the location of the main broadcast site. RFNC does have an email account where people can send in requests or news tips. There are also several BBS systems that are dedicated to the station.

Written by JohnPatrickMCP

CyberGeneration Encounters