[SFDXA] ENFORCEMENT: MAJOR FINES AFFIRMED TO A PAIR OF MIAMI UNLICENSED BROADCASTERS

[Bill]

> ENFORCEMENT: MAJOR FINES AFFIRMED TO A PAIR OF MIAMI UNLICENSED 
> BROADCASTERS
> Two Miami Florida unlicensed broadcasters have been ordered to pay 
> some rather stiff monetary forfeitures. Jim Davis, W2JKD, reports:
> The higher fine was levied against Gary Feldman for operating an 
> unlicensed transmitter on 97.9 MHz in Miami. The FCC originally 
> proposed a $25,000 penalty in February after tracing the source of the 
> unlicensed transmissions to an FM antenna mounted on the roof of 
> Feldman’s residence. According to the commission Feldman during an 
> inspection admitted to FCC personnel that he was the only one 
> operating the station.
> But it did not end there. In June of 2012 FCC agents found he stopped 
> broadcasting from his home but continued to do so on 97.9 MHz from a 
> commercial building. The FCC also dug through its records and found 
> Feldman had previously been fined for operating an illegal station in 
> Tampa and had not paid that $10,000 fine.
> The FCC Feldman didn’t respond to them about the original penalty 
> which the agency has now reaffirmed. And as the result of the evidence 
> before it the higher amount has been affirmed as well.
> The commission has also upheld a $15,000 fine proposed in February 
> against Bernard Veargis for operating an unlicensed station on 91.7 
> MHz in Miami. In that case, FCC agents traced the source of an 
> unlicensed signal to an FM antenna mounted to the roof of a commercial 
> building. In response to a complaint from the FAA about interference 
> to Miami International Airport departure frequency 119.45 MHz, agents 
> found the source was the same antenna.
> The FCC agents soon linked the transmitter ownership to a website for 
> “Chico the Leo Grown Folks Radio Miami.” The site and a Facebook page 
> listed the same number for Veargis that the property owner had 
> provided to the FCC. He also told agents that Veargis installed the 
> transmission equipment in the building, which Veargis later admitted 
> to the agents. However the Enforcement Bureau says Veargis never 
> respond to the earlier notice, and that’s why it reaffirmed the fine.
> Im Jim Davis, W2JKD.
> Both Feldman and Veargis have 30 days from the May 16th of release of 
> the orders to pay up or file an appeal. (FCC)