FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU IS ACTIVE

 Several recent notices of violation, orders, or consent decrees from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau carry important reminders of how to get into trouble with a federal agency. Here are a few examples: • A Low Power FM Station relocating its transmitter site without first filing an application and receiving approval to do so (no fine yet) • Lying to the FCC about your ownership in order to receive several million dollars from a winning TV Auction Bid (fine was $2 million and license relinquishment) • Operating an Unlicensed FM Station ($25,000) • Failing to award contest prizes, plus having an unauthorized transfer of control ($12,000 plus an onerous compliance plan) • Operating a Class A TV station at less than 80% output power, failing to seek temporary authority to operate at reduced power, failing to notate EAS logs with reasons that EAS test messages were not received, and monitoring a station other than an assigned station for EAS purposes without a waiver (no fine yet) • Discontinuing operation of an FM translator without prior authority to do so ($8,000) We’ve noticed quite an uptick in enforcement actions from the FCC, especially over the past year. Stay cautious.