FCC Chairman Ajit Pai
(Source: Tom Taylor Now newsletter)
FCC staff will be “cops on the beat” against pirates.
Chairman Ajit Pai had his stats ready for yesterday’s House Oversight Hearing – the FCC’s issued 39 NOUOs (Notice of Unlicensed Operation) this year, among other enforcement actions. Pai knew the question about the effect of closing of 11 field offices was coming from somewhere, and it was posed by Tampa-area Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Pai says as a Commissioner, “I had substantial disagreements with the original” plan of then-Chair Tom Wheeler. The compromise worked out with Congress included closing the Tampa field office – but Pai says the Commission’s doing its best to address the pirate problem that is “a problem all across the East coast.” That when he says the staff is determined to be “cops on the beat” against unlicensed operators. That seemed to satisfy Bilirakis. More from the hearing – there’s support for a new minority tax certificate plan. It would incentivize an owner to sell to a qualified minority by offering a tax break or deferral. And we haven’t mentioned the #1 complaint around telecom – doing something to choke off robocalls and “spoof calls.”
Check out the full Tom Taylor Now newsletter which also includes questions posed to Chairman Pai, about defining Net Neutrality.
You must realize with the new ‘get tough on criminal behaviour’ now playing out in Washington, these guys are looking for heads to roll anyplace they can find them. Their priorities are totally messed-up, but as long as they look ‘tough’ on crime, that’s all that matters to these tunnel-visioned servants.
Mainstream radio has become so staid and boring that pirates should be encouraged. Very few, if any, cause problems regarding interference with legitimate transmissions.
As long as pirates do not create harmful interference to adjacent channels and other services, this should not be a high enforcement priority, and FCC should create a process of accommodation and legitimize their services in some cases
I enjoy shortwave pirates, and like you said, when they dont interfere. Especially nowadays since the am/fm airwaves have become a wasteland of coorporate talk and dull safe restricted music formats, a little rebelious freedom is refreshing.
Maybe the FCC, instead of selling off spectrum to the highest bidder, should open up it to more community & low power FM stations. Then the pirates could get licensed & cause less interference while still providing an alternative voice and programming for the communities they often serve.