FCC Fines CBer for Operating Illegal Transmitter With Linear
Helping to alleviate concerns that it rarely polices the Citizens Radio Service (CB), the FCC has fined an Alaska CBer $500 for “willfully and repeatedly” operating a non-certificated CB transmitter with an RF linear amplifier which, the Commission said, violated federal law and its rules and “voided his authority to operate his CB station.”
In a Forfeiture Order released October 30, the FCC noted that the CBer, Glenn S. Yamada, of Kenai, Alaska, did not deny the violations but stated that he “did not intend to violate” the Communications Act of 1934 or FCC rules. Yamada also told the FCC that he was unable to pay the initial forfeiture of $12,500, imposed in a July 18, 2012, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL).
The Commission said its agents had identified Yamada as the source of a signal that the Commission’s High Frequency Direction Finding Center “observed interfering with safety of life operations on the frequency of 21.965 MHz [sic]” in January and February 2012.
The FCC said that based on financial documents Yamada provided, it found “sufficient basis” to reduce the fine to $500, and it gave Yamada 30 days to pay or have his case turned over to the US Department of Justice for enforcement of the forfeiture.
As required by the NAL, Yamada informed the FCC in writing in August 2012 that he was still engaged in CB operations, using a certified transmitter that was not attached to a linear amplifier.