This study is an historical and critical analysis of pirate radio in Europe generally and Great Britain in particular. The purpose of this study is to outline the history of pirate radio, and to assess its influence upon the British radio broadcast system. Research material employed in this study includes historical accounts of pirate radio in Europe, British Governmental documents, periodical articles, and autobiographies of relevant British politicians of the period. This study concludes that the establishment of a legal commercial radio broadcast system in 1972 was a direct result of the existence of the British off-shore "pirate" radio stations from 1964 to 1967.

Unlicensed radio stations in 1933 tested the Radio Act of 1927 as to whether or not the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) had the right to regulate radio stations whose signals were allegedly intrastate. The FRC believed it could regulate such radio stations and proceeded to confiscate equipment, charge individuals with violation of the law, and bring them to trial, either in an injunction hearing, a criminal trial, or both. The most formidable case was that of United States v. Gregg et al. The challenge was met by the FRC and the judge, whose decision is still quoted in legal documents. The decision upheld the Radio Act of 1927 and the FRC's right to regulate all radio stations, licensed or unlicensed.