The FCC says Conroy Dawson must pay a $25,000 penalty for operating a pirate radio station at 97.5-FM in Paterson, New Jersey. Over a year ago, New York field agents investigated Dawson’s operation which identified itself as “WBLR – Big Link Radio 97.5 FM.” He was first issued a notice and claimed he was applying for a license and would remove the station. Two months later, Dawson popped up again on the same frequency but at a different location.
Dawson moved to a third location in 2016 before the Commission slapped him with a $25K NAL in January of this year. In February, Dawson filed a response to the NAL, arguing the NAL should be cancelled or reduced. “Specifically, Mr. Dawson asserts that, although he operates an Internet-based streaming radio station, his operation does not have a broadcast component and, as a result, he is the victim of pirate broadcasts rather than the perpetrator.”
Dawson claims that he was not the operator of the station transmitting on 97.5 MHz in Paterson, New Jersey, and states in the NAL response that he “only did the Internet” and did not “place any antenna on any site.” Dawson further asserts that he has “no connection, location or agreement with anyone to rebroadcast our Internet feed,” and that he has tried to convince unnamed third-parties, who allegedly broadcast Big Link Radio, to refrain from doing so.
The Commission was not persuaded by Dawson’s argument. “Mr. Dawson admits to being the operator of an Internet-based streaming radio station that operates under the branding of ‘Big Link Radio’ or ‘WBLR.’ Second, Mr. Dawson does not contest our finding in the NAL that the station identifications recorded by agents included a reference to the station’s operating frequency of 97.5 MHz. Third, and finally, the station’s website includes a programming advertisement that references the fact that it is broadcast on 97.5 MHz. If Mr. Dawson were truly unaware that Big Link Radio was being broadcast on 97.5 MHz, we would not have found references to an operating frequency in Big Link Radio’s periodic station identifications or in promotional materials on its own website.”
Read the FCC Notice to Dawson HERE.
Pirates are a slap at every legal broadcaster. You give a mouse a cookie and he will steal your milk and your lunch money.
Personally, and I only speak for every single executive in radio, I would prefer that the FCC focus on our outrageous cell phone bills, overpriced internet and the stupid main studio rule. I have a list. Frankly, I tend to believe Mr. Dawson. We should use the country of Ireland as a model–they love pirates. Love them, put them in the ratings book. Really