Many thanks to an anonymous SWLing Post contributor who writes:
The FCC released this material [yesterday]. It consists mainly of letters to various organizations to ask their members to avoid cooperating with unlicensed radio stations.
The concern is that real estate owners may be harboring unauthorized stations, and that businesses may support such stations with advertising funds.
I would point you to an interesting opinion on the subject by Prof. John Anderson:
John references this recent YouTube video clip of a Congressional hearing where FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is questioned on the FCC’s enforcement efforts:
Again, I am not the source of the following material–the FCC is:
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY ON PIRATE RADIO ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY.
STMT. News Media Contact: Robin Colwell at (202) 418-2300, email: [email protected] OCMO https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
Released: 03/01/2016. FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY: PERSONS OR BUSINESSES OPERATING “PIRATE” BROADCAST STATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO ENFORCEMENT ACTION. (DA No. 16-159) This Enforcement Advisory discusses the rules that prohibit “pirate” radio, explains to the public at large what broadcast actions are illegal, why such activities may harm the public, and what do to in case someone suspects “pirate” broadcasts. EB . News Media Contact: Will Wiquist at (202) 418-0509, email: [email protected]
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_pub
Note that the bulk of this report focuses on FM/AM radio pirates in local markets rather than shortwave pirates (though I’m sure, on occasion, shortwave pirates are on the FCC radar).
Having been a broadcast engineer for more than 4 decades I’ve personally dealt with pirates while engineering licensed broadcast stations, but I’m concerned that the FCC has still failed to convey to the layperson the difference between blatant pirate radio operators and educational institutions and radio hobbyists that use unlicensed but legal Part 15 radio on the AM and FM broadcast bands in addition to the popular 13.56 MHz Shortwave frequency. I’ve been pressing Chairman Tom Wheeler as well as Commissioner Ajit Pai and Chairman Michael O’Rielly to publicly acknowledge that they themselves can distinguish the difference between pirates and Part 15 radio enthusiasts. I’ve made postal and electronic inquires to these individuals and while they’ve shown receipt of acceptance they’ve never been acknowledged.
I authored an article for broadcast trade paper Radio World entitled “Distinguish Pirates From Part 15 Operators” in the hopes to educate some folks. I considered the FCC letters lacking in detail so I developed a much more improved explanation called the “Pirate Radio Vs Part 15 Radio Fact Sheet” located at https://www.hobbybroadcaster.net/pirate-part-15-radio-fact-sheet.php
Bill DeFelice
Webmaster
CampusBroadcaster.net / HobbyBroadcaster.net
Pardon the link above, try this.
http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/
I keep up with local FCC busts on the following link:
http://www.transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices
When I was last in DC I spent the day at the FCC. Publicly they have to say this. But as one officer at the FCC told me in reality they don’t really care and for the most part turn a blind eye. It’s only if there is a complaint that they really do something. He wasn’t the only one who told me the same thing.