FCC Adds Staff, Vehicles to Uncover Pirate Radio Operations
The FCC Enforcement Bureau issued 44 notices in fiscal year 2023 to owners or managers of properties where apparent pirate radio broadcasts operate, warning them of consequences, the agency said Wednesday. In its annual report to Congress required under the…
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2020 Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act, the agency said 25 notices related to pirate sweeps. It said the Enforcement Bureau will continue monitoring the properties, saying pirate radio stations often stop operations temporarily and then resume. The bureau said it hired four full-time staffers in FY 2023 focusing on pirate radio and is hiring more. In addition, it ordered six mobile direction-finding investigative vehicles to support the additional staff. Those vehicles will be outfitted this year or next with specialized hardware and software for detecting pirate radio operators. The commission's online pirate radio database went live this week (see 2301240056).