The Portland Radio Authority: a Non-Commercial, Listener Supported, Online Radio Station

They’ve been around since 2003, but I just discovered Portland Radio Authority. Here’s how they explain themselves on their website:

The PRA is a non-commercial, listener supported, online radio station. As a free form community media source, we are committed to bringing independent artistry and marginalized viewpoints into regional and international view. We aim to become a trusted source of current and historical music education, while serving as a reflection of the Portland Arts Community.

The PRA was originally founded in 2003 as a pirate radio station that broadcast a low-power signal over local airwaves and streamed content to worldwide audiences via the Web. In 2006 PRA switched to an Internet-only format after local media interest in the station’s eclectic, regional format drew unwanted attention to its illegal broadcast activities from the FCC. Today, about 25 DJs play weekly two-hour shows that cover a variety of genres, from ambient music to hip-hop to indie rock. The station is funded entirely by DJ membership dues and contributions from individual listeners.