Nearly 10 years ago AM stations were granted permission to simulcast their signals via "translator stations". This was a rather peculiar attempt to assist struggling AM stations to regain their listeners.
As I've mentioned numerous times over the years (which never seems to garner any comment) an interesting side effect since that law went into effect is that it seems to correspond with all AM NOUO citations (Notice Of Unlicensed Operation) coming to a complete stop in 2016, which was odd when you consider there had been an average of 6 to 12 NOUO citations every year from 2002 to 2016 (all of which had been non-compliant part 15 stations https://part15lab.blogspot.com/2014/04/nouo-notices-of-unlicensed-operation.html)
I've always interpreted this fact to indicate licenced AM stations dont really care about their AM audience anymore because their audience is now actually listening to their FM simulcasts -- So they no longer care when some part 15 AM broadcaster launching a station in their area and potentially stealing their listeners. -- So, no complaints equals no citations. Or in other words the AM stations actually consider their FM simulcasts as the priority.
Well anyway, the decade long span of AM NOUO absenced has come to end with this recent citation.
Apparently they no longer call it "NOTICE OF UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION"
Now they call it
NOTICE OF ILLEGAL
PIRATE RADIO BROADCASTING:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-408764A1.pdf
"...investigating a complaint about an unlicensed AM broadcast station... On July 29, 2024 and September 11, 2024, agents from the New York Office confirmed.. that radio signals on frequency 1620 kHz were emanating from the property at 1595-1609 Blue Hill Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02126 .. identify S-1595 Blue Hill Avenue Realty Trust as the owner of the Property... we request that you identify the individual(s) engaged in pirate radio broadcasting on the property that you own or manage...."
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/fcc-targets-am-pirate-signal-in-boston
"...operator of Radio Energy Boston. The Brockton Enterprise reported in 2022 that Marcellin had purchased the station, which it identified as broadcasting on 1620 AM. The newspaper said then that the station had been in operation for 22 years..."
https://www.insideradio.com/free/think-all-pirates-are-fm-fcc-s-boston-warning-proves-am-is-just-as-luring/article_7052e40c-d3e1-11ef-b789-1f5dbe1f8d17.html
"..None is accused of being the actual operator of the station, however. Instead, each is asked to identify the individuals behind the unlicensed broadcasts. The FCC will use that information to determine what, if any, enforcement action is required."
Another interesting (though unrelated) tidbit is that from 2002 to 2009 no AM citation ever investigated, or even mention the alternate option 15.219, but that all NOUO after 2009 do.. Why is that?
It was the two and a half year battle of KENC AM 1650 with the FCC back in 2009. Now all NOUOs address both options instead of just field strength.
@richardpowers Your theory about a shape-shifting FCC makes sense and I buy it.
@carl-blare Yeah, but there I'm just repeating old news, but really the main point of my post is about the first AM citation in a decade. I presume it to be a part 15 station though the citation makes no reference to field strength or anything in the way NOUOs did. The station has been in operation for 22 years now. Why they suddenly got noticed now is a mystery.
Apparently they no longer call it "NOTICE OF UNAUTHORIZED OPERATION"
Now they call it NOTICE OF ILLEGAL PIRATE RADIO BROADCASTING:
That statement was not accurate at all!
A NOUO is a citation issued to the actual owner/operator of a station.
A NIPRB is issued specifically to a property owner who allows a pirate radio station to operate on their property. NIPRBs, which came into existence with the Pirate Act, gives the FCC power to target property owners and hold them liable for as much as a $2,000,000 fine.