Pirate king is ready for a fight (Coventry Telegraph Saturday February 6th, 1988)

A LEADING pirate community radio operator says he'll continue to broadcast even if his station isn't made legal by radical government plans unveiled this week.  Cecil Morris, founder of top West Midlands pirate station PCRL, is hoping to be offered one of 500 local and community radio licences proposed by Home Secretary Douglas Hurd.  He said: "There'd be something drastically wrong if another Birmingham station is given the licence and were not."  But he warned: "The Peoples Community Radio Link will never die." Mr Morris, who claims many listeners in Coventry, has cautiously welcomed the government's plans, which come before Parliament in the autumn.      The Broadcasting Bill is set to revolutionise British radio, creating three national commercial station.

A ration authority would assign licences subject to local demand. Overcome         Mr Morris has previously applied for his community station -- a strong supporter of charity events   -- to be legalised.    No he's "pretty optimistic" PCRL will be picked for a licence.     "We'll overcome any barriers," he said. "We are a responsible station and would work within the guidelines."   But -- like scores of other pirate community operators  -- he's anxiously awaiting details of the cost of turning in the scull and crossbones. What licence and running charges would be asked of legalized community stations is unclear, at the moment.     But the flag of piracy may continue to fly on the airways, if attempts are made to bleed the smaller staions white. home: pcrlfm.co.uk