The Enforcement Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed fines in connection with two separate instances of unauthorized radio broadcasting in the Bronx borough of New York City.
In the first case, the Bureau has proposed a fine of $25,000 for Albercio Mercado for “willfully and knowingly” operating the radio station “Manzana FM,” in the Bronx, without proper FCC authorization. The illegal operation was confirmed by agents from the FCC’s New York Field Office, who investigated the alleged unauthorized broadcast following consumer complaints and tracked the location using direction-finding techniques.
The field agents confirmed that Mercado was the operator of the illegal broadcasting through a video posted on his Facebook page, in which Mercado identifies himself, the station’s name, and the station’s frequency.
In the second case, the Enforcement Bureau has proposed a fine of $20,000 for Neville and Lilleth Morgan for the illegal operation of their radio station, “TOG Radio.” In this case, agents from the Bureau’s New York Field Office observed an unauthorized FM broadcast station operating at 105.3 MHz in the Bronx and were able to match audio recordings of the broadcast with audio streaming from the Morgans’ “Sweet Hour of Prayer” website.
Read the FCC’s Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in connection with Mercado.
Read the Notice in connection with Neville and Lilleth Morgan.
