FCC issues more NOUOs for pirates

Posts on boston-radio-interest mention the FCC issued several Notices of Unauthorized Operation yesterday to pirates on 101.3, 104.7, and 105.3. It was pointed out the FCC can only do so much as they need US Attorney authorization to seize equipment etc.
Many WJIB listeners wrote the FCC to complain about Big City.
https://lists.bostonradio.org/pipermail/boston-radio-interest/2017-September/033223.html

One NOUO said they found 101.3 broadcasting illegally on August 14. W267CE started on August 4. Around August 16 it was noticed Big City had shut off 101.3...but the letter was issued yesterday.

A couple of the names on these letters had gotten multiple warnings before. A site called diymedia.net has a regular "FCC Enforcement Database" over several years and can be searched for these letters, etc.; most say warnings, a few mention fines issued and once in a great while FCC and other agencies with proper issued authority, shut pirates down.

Since WJIB signed onto 101.3 it seems as though Big City has moved to 100.3 which is affecting reception of WHEB on the North Shore. They keep sending NOUO's but have never done a seizure, WHY?? This station has been broadcasting illegally for over a decade and nothing has been done!

Many pirates active as I was close to Boston yesterday incl 93.9 (!), 100.3...105.3 had dead carrier.

theradioman said:

Since WJIB signed onto 101.3 it seems as though Big City has moved to 100.3 which is affecting reception of WHEB on the North Shore. They keep sending NOUO's but have never done a seizure, WHY?? This station has been broadcasting illegally for over a decade and nothing has been done!

Click to expand...

Wouldn't look good to crack down on a station serving an underserved racial/ethnic minority? Do political considerations ever figure into this process?

Pretty sure Big City has been raided twice, but they always come back within weeks from the the same location.

105.3 (at the same location as 87.7 and 100.3) has been Broadcasting dead air for 3 or 4 weeks now.

here is a term the FCC needs to learn and adopt... civil forfeiture.

Works against drug dealers, drug purchasers, people who solicit prostitutes....

The U S Attorney needs to get off their arses and make this happen.

I think a landlord of a bldg with a pirate station in Miami got hit for $144k

Inside Radio: The Commission on Tuesday unanimously voted to fine a Florida pirate and his two landlords a combined $144,344—the most allowed under federal law—for repeatedly operating an unlicensed North Miami station at 90.1 FM that calls itself “Touche Douce.” The case also marks the first time the FCC has issued a fine against a property owner where the pirate station is based.

In what way was the landlord complicit in the unauthorized broadcasts?

Kemosabe said:

In what way was the landlord complicit in the unauthorized broadcasts?

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Frankly, many of the landlords know, either by being part owner of the pirate, or from having the FCC nail notices to the door.

One tactic the FCC is using is to send a N.A.L. to the property owner, since the antenna is mounted on their building.

If they were not aware of it before, they become aware when the N.A.L. arrives certified mail, and they find out what the potential voluntary contribution to the U S Treasury is going to be....

At that point if they are not complicit , they are going to start eviction proceedings rather than get hit in the checkbook for something a renter did.

For lack of being able to do anything meaningful themselves, the FCC is putting pressure on those that can.

Not that it does any good, even if the unlicensed community broadcaster who is performing a public service by broadcasting to an under served segment of the population is forced to move, they just pop up somewhere else in 2 weeks.

Whack-A-Mole Radio.

(please note sarcasm was used in the preparation of part of this response)

MRBIboredop said:

Whack-A-Mole Radio.

(please note sarcasm was used in the preparation of part of this response)

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I hope no radios were harmed in the preparation of your response.