The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to enforce its regulations against the operations of unlicensed radio transmitters that can potentially interfere with licensed radio operations and public safety communications.
In June 2014, the FCC issued Forfeiture Orders in two separate cases involving unlicensed radio operations. In the first instance, the Commission fined Damian Anthony Ojouku Allen of Ft. Lauderdale, FL $25,000 for operating a pirate radio station, self-identified as “NGR Online Radio.” Allen failed to respond to a Notice of Apparent Liability issued by the FCC in March 2014.
In the second instance, Walter Olenick and M. Rae Nadler-Olenick were fined $15,000 by the Commission for operating an unlicensed FM radio station in Austin, TX. The Olenicks did not deny operating an unlicensed radio station but claimed that their operation was not subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, a claim denied by the Commission.
In a separate matter, the Commission has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability against Marc-Nus Charles for allegedly operating an unlicensed radio station in Pompano Beach, FL. The unlicensed operation was identified by agents based in the Miami Office of the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau, who took field strength signals of the station transmission on multiple days in June 2013.
Charles has had previous run-ins with the FCC over unlicensed radio operations. He was issued a written warning from the FCC in 2009 connected with a separate unlicensed operation in Pompano Beach, which ultimately resulted in the confiscation of his radio equipment.
