Christian Torres was operating illegally at 100.9-FM in Bridgeport, Connecticut, from a business; William Cotter, at 104.7-FM, also in Bridgeport, from a residence; and Nnanna Okoro was cited for a pirate station at 87.9-FM Irvington, New Jersey, from a house he owns. All three were given 10 days to shut down and explain to the FCC why they were operating radio stations illegally.
The problem is going after pirates will net a few at a time, but the FCC is ignoring the fact that imported, illegal FM transmitters are still available online from American sellers … ALL AGAINST THE LAW. These imports could be curtailed if the commission would act on three already established regulations: Title 47 C.F.R. Section 2.803(a)(1), Title 47 C.F.R. Section 2.925(a)(1) and Title 47 C.F.R Section 302(a). These regulations cover the import, sale, use and certification of imported transmitters.
One has to wonder if the FCC is not doing anything more than pirate enforcement as a “feel good” exercise toward licensed broadcasters. Do they lack understanding of their own regulations? Allowing any would-be pirate to go onto various online venues to purchase these illegal transmitter with just a few clicks is absolutely absurd.
It would be one thing for an FCC certified Part 15 FM transmitter to be over the allowed Part 15.239 field intensity by a relatively small amount, but online merchants offering those imported, low quality 1.2 watt, 5 watt and 10 watt FM transmitters to the masses should be fined and/or shuttered. They, in large part, are contributing to the littering of the spectrum if not outright enabling radio piracy in the first place.
Why 10 days to shut down… why not immediately? what pussies
Are these guys selling local spots??!!