Latest FCC Enforcement Actions
The Federal Communications Commission is still active and actively investigates violations of FCC rules, particularly in the area of interference to Public Safety Services and Broadcasters.
This week, the Commission issued a Notice of Harmful Interference to the operator of an HDTV antenna system that somehow managed to interfere with the normal operation of the Massachusetts State Police. Go figure. A NOTICE, as issued in this case, does not carry the penalty of a fine, however, when the operator of a device which emits RF energy is notified of interference complaints, it is up to the operator to take immediate steps to remedy that interference. Either by reducing power, changing the properties of the device so that it no longer interferes with the complaintant, or ceasing operation of the device, whichever solves the problem. Failure to stop interfering with the licensed service can, and usually does lead to a Notice of Apparent Liability – which is a fancy way of saying a fine, or further, judicial steps taken by the FCC to remedy the situation. In most cases, the mere issuance of a Notice of Harmful Interference is quite fortunate, as the person served with that notice has time to fix the problem before getting a fine. In some more serious cases, such as interfering with communications in the Air Bands, the offender is usually tracked down, arrested, and charged with any number of crimes. Interference on the Air bands, used by private, commercial and even military aircraft to communicate with ground control and other aircraft carry heavy penalties. This guy got off easy!
Dmitriy Groysman was Issued a Notice of Harmful Interference for operating a 2002 Newest HDTV Indoor Digital TV Antenna that was generating spurious emissions in the 813-817 MHz band and causing harmful interference to the Massachusetts State Police.
The notice is viewable below.
We’ll be posting more enforcement actions as it happens
