Enforcement Bureau Targets Pirate Landlords
The FCC Enforcement Bureau went after owners of properties hosting pirate broadcasting operations, flexing new powers enabled by the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act. “It is unacceptable -- and plainly illegal under the new law -- for landlords…
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and property managers to simply opt to ignore pirate radio operation,” Bureau Chief Rosemary Harold said Thursday. “Parties that knowingly facilitate illegal broadcasting on their property are liable for fines of up to $2 million.” The bureau sent out a new type of notice, called a notice of illegal pirate radio broadcasting, to two New York property managers. Bronstein Properties received one and Benedict Realty Group two (here and here), for three city buildings that the agency said host pirate radio operations. The notices give the companies 10 days to respond, warning that failure to do so could still lead to the determination that the companies knowingly allowed an unlicensed radio station to operate. The bureau released an order Thursday implementing provisions of the Pirate Act, including fines for property owners and a section allowing the agency to proceed immediately to skip the “notice of violation” stage. “We move directly to an order here because implementation of new section 511 entails no exercise of our administrative discretion and, therefore, notice and comment procedures are unnecessary,” the order said.