FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU IS ACTIVE
Posted on December 31st, 2018 by adminSeveral 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.