R&R - Radio and Records
Originally Posted On Aug 8, 2008 8:24 PM ET
"FCC Hits Brooklyn Pirate With $10,000 Fine"
R&R - Radio and Records
Originally Posted On Aug 8, 2008 8:24 PM ET
"FCC Hits Brooklyn Pirate With $10,000 Fine"
By Jeffrey Yorke
"The FCC on Friday (Aug. 8) issued a $10,000 fine to Jean Idalbert of Brooklyn, N.Y., for operating an unlicensed radio transmitter at 90.9 FM."
"The FCC sent him a notice of apparently liability on April 29 and said Friday that there is evidence that he received the notice but failed to respond. He must send the U.S. Treasury a check or money order."
Gee - $10,000 would buy a whole bunch of Procasters, Rangemasters, "Antenna Guy Carl" pre-made antennas and other fun stuff - instead it's going to the Treasury...
Just out of curiousity I looked up the original NOUO on this. The field strength was measured as 7368 uV/m at 643 meters. This, calculating back, gives an approximate antenna effective radiated power of 439 milliwatts, not a blowtorch by any means. My guess is that the offender was using a FM transmitter kit with a kit amplifier (easy to get from a well known manufacturer), but this is only a guess. My 2 meter hand held produces 5 times this power and I can use it legally!
The big mistake here, other than violating the rules for field strength, is ignoring the FCC communications. Some folks just have to learn the hard way.
Neil