{"id":46988,"date":"2020-12-17T15:41:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T19:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=46988"},"modified":"2020-12-17T15:42:51","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T19:42:51","slug":"fcc-pirate-act-targets-property-owners-with-fines-up-to-2-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/fcc-pirate-act-targets-property-owners-with-fines-up-to-2-million\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC: Pirate Act now targets property owners with fines up to $2 Million"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photo by Ben Koorengevel<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Benn Kobb, who shares the following press release from the FCC:<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a>Media Contact:
\nWill Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
\nwill.wiquist@fcc.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

For Immediate Release<\/p>\n

FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU WARNS PROPERTY OWNERS AND<\/strong>
\nMANAGERS OF SIGNIFICANT NEW FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR<\/strong>
\nALLOWING ILLEGAL BROADCASTING ON THEIR PROPERTY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Notice Could Precede Fines of Up to $2 Million Under the PIRATE Act<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, December 17, 2020\u2014The FCC\u2019s Enforcement Bureau today announced it
\nhas begun targeting property owners and managers that knowingly tolerate pirate broadcasting
\non their properties, exercising the Commission\u2019s new authority under the recently enacted
\nPIRATE Act. Parties that knowingly facilitate illegal broadcasting on their property are liable
\nfor fines of up to $2 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cPirate radio is illegal and can interfere with not only legitimate broadcast stations\u2019 business
\nactivities but also those stations\u2019 ability to inform the public about emergency information,\u201d
\nsaid Rosemary Harold, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. \u201cIt is unacceptable \u2013 and plainly
\nillegal under the new law \u2013 for landlords and property managers to simply opt to ignore pirate
\nradio operations. Once they are aware of these unauthorized broadcasts, they must take steps
\nto stop it from continuing in their buildings or at other sites they own or control. If they do not
\ndo so, they risk receiving a heavy fine, followed by collection action in court if they do not pay
\nit. In addition, our enforcement actions will be made public, which may create further
\nunforeseen business risks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under the new authority, the Enforcement Bureau will provide written notice to property
\nowners and managers the agency has reason to believe are turning a blind eye to \u2013 or even
\nhelping facilitate \u2013 illegal broadcasting. These new Notices of Illegal Pirate Radio
\nBroadcasting also will afford parties a period of time to remedy the problem before any
\nenforcement action moves forward. In the first such notices, issued today to property owners
\nregarding their buildings in New York City, the respective parties were given 10 days to
\nrespond. The Bureau will consider any response before taking further action.<\/p>\n

Commission investigations have found that landlords and property managers too often are
\naware of this illegal activity taking place on their premises. The Commission has previously
\nsent warnings to landlords and even sought cooperation from national property owners\u2019
\norganizations in raising awareness. With pirate broadcasts persisting despite these efforts,
\nCongress took action and empowered the Commission to penalize property owners and
\nmanagers that knowingly permit pirate broadcasters to remain operating from the landlord\u2019s
\nbuildings or unbuilt areas. Landlords and property managers also may be found liable if a
\npirate station ceases operation for some period of time but later resumes at the same site.<\/p>\n

Separately, the Enforcement Bureau and the Office of the Managing Director also released
\ntoday an Order amending the Commission\u2019s rules to implement the new enforcement authority
\ngranted by Congress through section 2 of the PIRATE Act, as codified in 47 U.S.C. \u00a7 511.
\nNotices of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting are available at:<\/p>\n

Notice: https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DOC-368827A1.pdf<\/a>
\nNotice: https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DOC-368817A1.pdf<\/a>
\nNotice: https:\/\/docs.fcc.gov\/public\/attachments\/DOC-368826A1.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

The PIRATE Act is available at: https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/116\/plaws\/publ109\/PLAW116publ109.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 \/ ASL: (844) 432-2275 \/ Twitter: @FCC \/ www.fcc.gov
\nThis is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Benn Kobb, who shares the following press release from the FCC: Media Contact: Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509 will.wiquist@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU WARNS PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF SIGNIFICANT NEW FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR ALLOWING ILLEGAL BROADCASTING ON THEIR PROPERTY Notice Could Precede Fines of Up to $2 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,297],"tags":[1241,4806,3791,2309,2182,1583,7029,4092],"class_list":["post-46988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-pirate-radio","tag-fcc","tag-fcc-anti-pirate-agenda","tag-fcc-enforcement-bureau","tag-federal-communications-commission","tag-fm-pirate-radio","tag-fm-pirates","tag-pirate-act","tag-pirate-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cdS","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53505,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/07\/fm-pirates-fcc-enforcement-sends-letters-to-landlords\/","url_meta":{"origin":46988,"position":0},"title":"FM Pirates: FCC Enforcement sends letters to landlords","author":"Thomas","date":"July 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World) NYC-Area Landlords Get Pirate Letters (Radio World) FCC Enforcement Bureau traced FM signals after receiving complaints Continuing its efforts to fight illegal broadcasts, the Federal Communications Commission has sent notices to five property owners and managers in and around New York City. The letters from the Enforcement\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Pirate-Radio-Microphone-e1584225204331.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Pirate-Radio-Microphone-e1584225204331.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Pirate-Radio-Microphone-e1584225204331.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Pirate-Radio-Microphone-e1584225204331.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57313,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/07\/radio-waves-fcc-issues-fm-pirate-warnings-shortwave-modernization-petition-comments-morse-code-love-and-the-art-of-listening-with-bbc-monitoring\/","url_meta":{"origin":46988,"position":1},"title":"Radio Waves: FCC Issues FM Pirate Warnings, Shortwave Modernization Petition Comments, Morse Code Love, and The Art of Listening with BBC Monitoring","author":"Thomas","date":"July 24, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to John Smith and Chris Greenway for the following tips. FCC Issues Nine Warnings To Miami Area Landowners\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/BBC-cavershampark-BBC-Monitoring.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/BBC-cavershampark-BBC-Monitoring.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/BBC-cavershampark-BBC-Monitoring.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31612,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/the-fccs-mission-to-shut-down-pirate-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":46988,"position":2},"title":"The FCC’s mission to shut down pirate radio","author":"Thomas","date":"April 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, there have been numerous articles regarding FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's efforts to increase pirate radio enforcement. This article in\u00a0The Outline\u00a0is a worthy read and features our good friend David Goren prominently: The FCC wants pirate radio stations off the air Immigrant communities rely on these unlicensed broadcasts to stay\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34691,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/fcc-fines-ham-25000-for-operating-an-fm-pirate-radio-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":46988,"position":3},"title":"FCC fines ham $25,000 for operating FM pirate radio station","author":"Thomas","date":"November 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Southgate ARC) FCC fines Amateur Radio licensee $25,000 for operating unlicensed FM station ARRL reports in an FCC Enforcement Bureau case going back to early 2015, a Paterson, New Jersey, Amateur Radio licensee has been penalized in the amount of $25,000 for allegedly continuing to operate an unlicensed FM\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38189,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/fcc-reaches-settlement-with-church-related-pirate-radio-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":46988,"position":4},"title":"FCC reaches settlement with church-related pirate radio station","author":"Thomas","date":"June 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares the following news via the ARRL: After filing a civil action and seeking an injunction to stop a church-related pirate radio station from operating in Worcester, Massachusetts, the US Attorney\u2019s Office this week reached a settlement with the station\u2019s operators, Vasco\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo by Michael Maasen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34516,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/pirate-radio-fcc-enforcement-focuses-on-small-markets\/","url_meta":{"origin":46988,"position":5},"title":"Pirate Radio: FCC Enforcement focuses on small markets","author":"Thomas","date":"October 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Tom Taylor Now) The FCC\u2019s busting more pirates in smaller markets. True, the Dallas office issues two Notices of Unlicensed Operation for an 87.9 in Houston, run out of New Beginnings Fellowship Church. But agents from Dallas also found a pirate FM at 93.5 up in the smallish Texas\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Soundboard-Mixer-Microphone-Pirate-Radio-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46988\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}