The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a citation against an online retailer for the marketing and sale of RF power amplifiers and LPFM transmitters that fail to comply with FCC rules.
According to a Citation issued in late September 2016, the situation first came to light in 2013, when the Commission received a complaint that the retailer, SCMS, Inc., was offering for sale on its website a number of uncertified external RF power amplifiers and LPFM transmitters. FCC staff subsequently visited the company’s website to verify the basis of the complaint, and issued a letter of inquiry (LOI) to the company, requesting information related to the apparent violation.
In its response to the Commission, SCMS argued that the amplifiers and transmitters being sold as standalone devices were identical to comparable devices that were integrated into FCC-certified systems from the same company. However, in its Citation, the FCC countered that individual amplifiers sold as part of an FCC-certified transmitter cannot be sold as a standalone product unless they have been separately certified.
In its Citation, the FCC warned that failure to immediately cease the marketing of unlicensed radio devices could subject the company to “significant fines.”
Read the complete text of the FCC’s Citation and Order against SCMS for the marketing and sale of non-compliant amplifiers and transmitters.
