FCC Proposes $80K in Fines Against Four Pirate Operators
RADIO ONLINE | Monday, January 12, 2026 | 5:16pm CT
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a combined $80,000 in fines against four individuals accused of operating illegal FM radio stations in New York and New Jersey .... In separate Notices .. released January 12, ... Each case involves alleged willful and knowing operation of an unlicensed FM station that exceeded the limits for Part 15 unlicensed operation and lacked any FCC authorization.
According to the FCC, agents used field strength measurements, direction-finding techniques, and ... also relied on station websites, signage, social media posts, and phone records to identify the individuals responsible for the broadcasts. ... Each of the four individuals has 30 days ...
How come we don't hear what the measured signal was like it used to be published?
In New York? Where do they find space!
@mark That was just excerpts from the article, but when I look up the actual citation ( https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-40A1.pdf) I notice it doesn't specify the field strengths either, it just says:
... The Agent took field strength measurements of the Station’s signal and determined that it exceeded the limits for unlicensed operation under part 15 of the Commission’s Rules.The Agent searched for and found the Internet stream for the Station and matched the over-the-air broadcast of the Station to its simultaneous online stream. ...
I haven't looked at the other three NALs but they probably say the same. I'm more familiar with NOUOs which are basically just warning tickets but they do almost always specify the field strength readings in those, maybe by the time it has escalated to a NAL there's simply no point to specify anymore. - Could be, I don't know.