How to Get a $10,000 FCC Fine

fcc-1The ARRL web site reported on this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture from the FCC. That’s government talk for “we are fining you.”

In case you are wondering how you can get fined by the FCC, here’s the sequence of events that resulted in a $10,000 fine for this person:

  • Get a Technician License and then let it expire.
  • Repeatedly transmit on 14.312 MHz, interfering with licensed radio amateurs.
  • Have FCC agents track the signal to your house
  • When the FCC agents enter your house to inspect your radio station, leave the transmitter sitting on 14.311 MHz.
  • Tell the FCC agents that you will remove the microphone from the transmitter and only use it as a receiver.

Hmmm, why does 14.312 MHz sound like a familiar frequency? :-)

73, Bob K0NR

Bob Witte, KØNR, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Colorado, USA. Contact him at [email protected].

3 Responses to “How to Get a $10,000 FCC Fine”

  • Andrew, W8FI:

    I certainly wouldn’t let my son listen to 313, but I do enjoy the creepy sound effects once in a while.

  • Doug, KA2GXE:

    Ham radio is a privilege, not a right. It’s sad that a few in our midst don’t care about civility or the rules.

    Last week, I listened to one fool let his mouth and his language fly way over the top. Words like fxxx, gxx dxxx, and the like have absolutely no place on the ham bands.

    You do not have first amendment rights on the air. And a ham license does not give you the right to bully folks who are only trying to help you understand such behavior is never appropriate on the air . . . ever.

    Don’t blame the FCC when they hunt you down and slap you with a major pink ticket. Ignorance is no excuse in ham radio. Do hams a favor and leave bad habits outside the shack. If you can’t control yourself, step back from the transmitter until you can. Can you afford a major fine, a felony record, or jail time?

  • ac7af:

    It would be nice if the fcc would start to fine cbers in the 10 meters band like 28085 the trucker frequency

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