California: FCC Fines (Radio) Amateur Licensee For Transmitting On Government Frequency

The FCC has affirmed a $500 forfeiture against Raimundo P. Silva, KD6SXG, of Brentwood, California, for "willful and repeated violations" involvingunauthorized operation on an unspecified US government frequency. In a Forfeiture Order (NOF) released July 27, the FCC said its San Francisco Field Office had received a complaint in April 2004 of harmful interference to a US government user. Theinterference "obstructed and interfered with satellite communications," the NOF said. Over the course of the next few months, FCC agents were able to trace and document "numerous instances" of fixed and mobile operation by Silva on the US government frequency. Last October, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) to Silva in the amount of $20,000. Subsequently
Silva voluntarily agreed to relinquish all of his radio equipment and surrender his General class Amateur Radio license. Responding to the NAL, Silva did not contest the FCC's findings, but he sought a cancellation or reduction of the fine because he'd given up his equipment and ham ticket. He also supplied tax records to support his assertion of inability to pay. Given the record in the case, the FCC said in the NOF, a reduction of the fine to $500 was warranted.

Source: The ARRL Letter Vol. 24, No. 29