The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has upheld the record fine it proposed in 2022 for an Idaho-based amateur radio operator for intentionally interfering with radio communications directing fire suppression efforts.
In a Forfeiture Order released in early January, the Commission affirmed its original civil penalty of $34,000 against Jason Frawley, a licensee of amateur radio station WA7QC, “for willfully and repeatedly operating without authorization and interfering with the radio communications of the United States Forest Service in 2021.”
Specifically, Frawley was found responsible for interfering with the radio communications of the U.S. Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands during efforts to direct fire suppression on a 1000-acre wildfire on national forest land outside of Elk River, Idaho in 2021.
The FCC originally issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) in June 2022, proposing a fine of $34,000, the maximum allowable fine in such cases. Frawley responded to the NAL, acknowledging that he did transmit on government frequencies, but claimed that his “good faith and non-malicious intent to help” the emergency responders, along with a history of compliance with applicable regulations, should warrant a reduction in the proposed fine.
In the end, the FCC denied Frawley’s request for leniency, upholding its originally proposed fine.
The FCC’s Forfeiture Order issued to Frawley is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-134A1.pdf.
