Pirate radio operators are one signature away from facing bigger fines and stronger penalties. On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the PIRATE Act, which gives the FCC expanded tools to fight unauthorized radio broadcasters. If the President signs the bill into law, the FCC will have the additional help it had been seeking for years, to crack down on pirates.
On April 29, 2019, U.S. Senator Daines of Montana introduced S.1228, the PIRATE Act with Senator Peters (D-MI). Upon passage of the bill in the Senate, Daines said, “This is great news for Montana local radio and rural broadcasters. My bipartisan bill protects law-abiding broadcasters and ensures their voices can be heard across Montana, free from the disruption and interference of illegal pirate broadcasters.”
The Pirate Act increases fines for illegal pirate operations from $10,000 per violation to $100,000 per day per violation, up to a maximum of $2,000,000, and streamlines the FCC’s enforcement. It was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives in February 2019.
The President is expected to sign the bill into law.
NAB President Gordon Smith: “This legislation provides stronger resources to help the FCC combat illegal pirate radio operations, which not only interfere with licensed radio stations but also public safety communications and air traffic control systems. We look forward to the President signing the PIRATE Act into law.”
New York State Broadcasters Association President David Donovan said once this Bill becomes law, the FCC will be in a much better position to crack down on pirates. “While pirate radio enforcement has increased under the administration of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, these tools are necessary to resolve the problem. The time has come for the FCC to regain its authority over FM radio frequencies in New York.”
“This legislation provides stronger resources to help the FCC combat illegal pirate radio operations, which not only interfere with licensed radio stations, but also public safety communications and air traffic control systems. We look forward to the President signing the PIRATE Act into law.”
