FCC Right to Inspect

[kf4rca]

The pirate on 88.9 here has been operating for over a year. Its a church operation.

http://www.insideradio.com/free/fcc...cle_1c7a3e9a-57df-11e9-bc40-efcf4fcb6b08.html

Most likely the pastor will say his authority to operate comes from a higher authority than the FCC- GOD.
Now as I understand it, when the Commission decides to do a bust, they enlist the aid of local law enforcement agencies.
But many local law enforcement agencies are opting out of the federal task force operations.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-police-federal-crime-task-forces/4194719002/

Could it be the federal task forces are out of control? Anybody remember Waco, Ruby Ridge?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/14/state-federal-task-forces-are-out-control/ (You gotta read this one.)

Besides, most local law enforcement agencies are more concerned with REAL crime like robbery, murder, car theft, rape, etc.
Consequently pirate broadcasting is really low on the list.

 

[TheBigA]

Most likely the pastor will say his authority to operate comes from a higher authority than the FCC- GOD.

Shades of Aimee Semple McPherson: Keep your minions of Satan away from my radio station!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson

 

[kenglish]

......
Besides, most local law enforcement agencies are more concerned with REAL crime like robbery, murder, car theft, rape, etc.
Consequently pirate broadcasting is really low on the list.

You left out jaywalking, untrimmed lawns, walking a bike across the sidewalk, drinking a beer on your own porch ..
Just wait until those nice pirates interfere with the police radios, though.

 

[davideduardo]

You left out jaywalking, untrimmed lawns, walking a bike across the sidewalk, drinking a beer on your own porch ..
Just wait until those nice pirates interfere with the police radios, though.

Having been on a plane that abruptly and frighteningly aborted a landing in Miami due to a pirate’s spurious radiations on the aviation band, those totally illegal operations both scare me and endanger citizens in many ways.

 

[kf4rca]

I figure they're about 15 miles south of here and are using an Ebay transmitter. Most likely it was set up by a technical person and the pastor knows little about it. They're 24/7 and certainly the automation set up would need some expertise.
The FCC could stake out the place and look for a geeky looking individual and arrest him. I believe they also have the power to have the electric company remove power to the place.
Tuned in the other day and they were playing a rap song that had the n-word in it.
If they are arrested, they probably plan to go to court and yell discrimination and that Whitey has control of the airwaves and this is just another example of Whitey keeping the Black man down. Yada, yada, yada, yada.
Stay tuned!

 

[kenglish]

FM pirates are not the only ones. Unlicensed broadband is a huge problem. The wireless broadband providers get flack from customers who have a marginal signal, and will do illegal things to try and keep their business. They will increase the size of dishes, force the systems to operate on non-approved frequencies, or purposely turn off the safeguards that are supposed to keep them from transmitting on active wind shear radar channels. A couple of six-figure fines in the SLC market alone.

 

[Kelly A]

That is definitely not now the 4th amendment works. An action done on one's private property being clearly observed from outside said property does not short-circuit the 4th amendment's protections. The gobbledygook BigA quoted from the FCC web site contravenes the 4th.

A licensee is different, as they did agree to be subject the FCC's inspection rules as part of the terms of their license. By definition, a pirate broadcaster did not.

It can be seen through Notices of Apparent Liability for unlicensed operation that only in exceptional circumstances will the FCC enforce 303 by requesting local authorities issue a search warrant for the premesis of an unlicensed broadcaster.

Having attended a couple 'pirate enforcement' sessions, the way it typically goes:

* The Commission issues a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) to the addressee of the Pirate transmission, to which they have ten days to respond.
* Field Agents will physically visit the address on more than one occasion if necessary, to inspect the source.
* If Field Agents are unable to deter further broadcasts or collect surrendered illegal transmission equipment, a warrant will be issued by a Federal Court.
* Field Agent's usually accompanied by Federal Marshals will enforce the warrant and seize equipment as needed. If resistance by the Pirate broadcaster is shown, Marshal's can arrest those involved as necessary.

 

[kf4rca]

The first one has already been done on Feb. 25, 2019:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-356338A1.pdf

Here's a view of the property:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/4...314e1310b1acf9e!8m2!3d33.7139848!4d-84.217664

What is that "pole" about 1/3 from the left side? Yikes!

 

[kenglish]

Sometime, when you have an hour or two to kill, Google this guy's name, his wife's name, their addresses and names of their various businesses. Also, pay attention to the lawsuits and forums where they are talked about.
Their web page photo shows a Rolls-Royce parked in front of their Church, next to what looks like a Bentley.
Think the FCC will get anywhere with them?

 

[kf4rca]

Most likely somebody else set it up for him. And somebody with that much expertise would know better.
And they had to have known that the nearest stations (WKEU & WMSL) were 50 miles away and that an LPFM might work.
What ever happened to those guys who set up Riddum 94.5 (Reggae pirate from 10 years ago)?
Are they still in the market? Hmm.
Here's the FCC's pirate map.

https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/fcc-enforcement-actions-against-pirate-radio-location/

Most of the activity is in Florida. Only one state away. Lots of expertise down there.

 

[anotherguyTN]

In the early 2000's there was a pirate station on 92.7 in West TN along I-40 near the Tennessee river area. It carried the GCN network that was loaded with conspiracy freaks, including Alex Jones, which is unfortunately the place where I first heard of him. It was on and off for several years, but is apparently gone now. I was never able to find out anything else about it or what happened to them. I don't know if they got caught by the FCC, or if they shut down on their own. But at least they seem to be off now.