Any FCC busts for DXing?

[K9GAS]

Hmm when I studied for my ticket cussing was illegal. Apples to apples,
Intentional interference is inference.

 

[psycho]

Cool! Does that mean the DOJ is going to start giving us free guns?

BTW, the FCC site turned up 8 CB-related busts in the last two years. All were running amps or export radios. Most were warnings, one guy had to "voluntarily" destroy his amp, one got a $4000 fine, and another guy got a $10000 fine. Not a big-time enforcement effort, more like showing a presence.

The FCC enforcement is reactive and not proactive (anymore). The offenders are sent letters and if that solves nothing, the offenders are stupid and get just what they deserve.
If you are running 50,000 watts on 100 acres, the FCC could care less.....if you are running 50,000 watts less than 150 ft away from a Hospital, then the FCC and/or local law enforcement will get involved.

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

Myself..

I Never have heard of anyone so charged by the FCC..
Besides..
Would likely be too hard to enforce ( even if they wanted to ).
Especially given how little fines they could collect from such enforcements.
It is just too easy to do skip even with legal power usage on legal frequency's (crazy amps or linears are Not at all needed to talk skip)

 

[psycho]

Myself.

It is just too easy to do skip even with legal power usage on legal frequency's (crazy amps or linears are Not at all needed to talk skip)

Are you kidding? Maybe on SSB you might get lucky once in a while without a "crazy" amp, but most of the time it just don't happen.

 

[mackmobile43]

Are you kidding? Maybe on SSB you might get lucky once in a while without a "crazy" amp, but most of the time it just don't happen.

I love it when you sport your reality pants.

 

[Wrench]

The FCC enforcement is reactive and not proactive (anymore). The offenders are sent letters and if that solves nothing, the offenders are stupid and get just what they deserve.
If you are running 50,000 watts on 100 acres, the FCC could care less.....if you are running 50,000 watts less than 150 ft away from a Hospital, then the FCC and/or local law enforcement will get involved.

I remember a guy, 3 blocks from a church, getting shut down for his langiage. His 500 watts was bleeding into the church PA system.

 

[AudioShockwav]

You seriously need to do something STUPID to attract the Attention of the FCC.
Working DX is a real low peg on the Pole... interfering with public safety comms or something like that will wake them up a lot faster....and even at that ...

Here Is copy and paste from another thread here on the Forum, so it is a bit out of context , but it will allow you to get an idea of the level of enforcement....
By the way, this guy is still on the Air today....less than a week ago, I heard him when I was down in the Merced area on the radio.

The priority of CB/Ham radio enforcement is so far down the list it is beyond thinking about and the resources are simply not there to allow them to send field agents driving around to look for rouge CB/Ham operators.
Look at Glenn A. Baxter, K1MAN, of Belgrade Lakes, Maine.
Listen to many many HF frequency's that sound like romper room at night.
Would you like a recent example?

Here is a REAL enforcement action as recent as last year regarding a CB operator, Ira Jones, in Merced,ca.
This individual had ( has) been causing problems for over a year before they cut loose a couple of guys to deal with the problem, finally in march of 2010 they seemed to do something.
First some background:

BACKGROUND

2. On March 19, 2010, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's San Francisco
Office ("San Francisco Office") responded to a complaint regarding
radio frequency interference within the radio communication system
equipment of the Merced County Fire Department. The agents observed
that transmissions on CB radio station frequency 27.165 MHz appeared
to match the audio distortion received on frequency 154.4 MHz within
the Merced County Fire Department's audio receiver and speaker system
in what appeared to be audio rectification interference within the
department's receiver and speaker system. The agents then monitored
the radio transmissions on frequency 27.165 MHz and used radio
direction finding techniques to locate the source of the signal
associated with the interference to a CB radio station operating from
Jones's residence in Merced, California.

3. On March 26, 2010, agents from the San Francisco Office again
monitored frequency 27.165 MHz and used radio direction finding
techniques to locate the source of the signal creating the audio
rectification interference to a CB radio station operating from
Jones's residence in Merced, California. Later the same day, the
agents approached Jones's residence, knocked on his door, identified
themselves as agents of the FCC and presented their official badges
and credentials. The individual identified himself as Jones. The
agents told Jones about the radio frequency interference complaint
from the nearby Merced County Fire Department and asked him if he was
the owner or operator of the CB radio station. Jones acknowledged that
he was the operator of the CB radio station but denied causing any
interference to the Merced County Fire Department. The agents then
requested that they be allowed to inspect the CB radio station to
determine the cause of the interference. Jones denied the agents'
request to inspect the CB radio station. The agents warned Jones that
refusing to allow an inspection of a CB radio station is a violation
of section 95.426(a) of the Rules and section 303 of the Act,
explaining that these rules require CB operators to make their
stations available to authorized FCC representatives for inspection.
Jones again denied the request and asserted that the FCC must have a
search warrant to inspect his CB station. The agents advised Jones
that he was required to take necessary precautions to avoid causing
radio interference by operating at power levels that do not exceed
legal limits and by refraining from using a radio frequency power
amplifier.

4. Prior to leaving the premises, the agents issued an on-scene "Notice
of Unlicensed Operation" ("First Notice") to Jones. The First Notice
expressly warned that Jones's refusal to allow inspection of his radio
equipment violated section 303 of the Act and included the full
text of section 303. Jones refused to accept a copy of the First
Notice and the agents left the document on a chair near the front door
of the house. The agents then left the premises, but continued to
monitor 27.165 MHz and heard Jones describe the agents' attempted
inspection. Later on March 26, 2010, the agents again monitored
frequency 27.165 MHz and noted that Jones was operating his CB radio
station without causing interference to the Merced County Fire
Department radio communication equipment. Subsequently, the Merced
County Fire Department reported that the interference ceased.

5. On August 25, 2010, the San Francisco Office received another
complaint from the Merced County Fire Department that the interference
to its radio communication equipment had resumed over the prior two
weeks and appeared to again be caused by a CB radio station operated
by Jones. According to the complainant, the interference lasted from
10 minutes to 45 minutes at a time and Jones's CB radio station could
be clearly heard on the radio communication equipment at the Merced
County fire station during these times.

6. On August 27, 2010, agents from the San Francisco Office again
monitored frequency 27.165 MHz and used radio direction finding
techniques to locate the source of the interfering signal to a CB
radio station operating from Jones's residence in Merced, California.
Later the same day, the agents, along with two Merced City police
officers, approached Jones at his front yard, identified themselves as
agents of the FCC and presented their official badges and credentials.
The two Merced City police officers identified the man as Jones. The
agents told Jones about the radio frequency interference complaint and
requested that they be allowed to inspect the CB radio station to
determine the cause of the interference. Jones denied the request.
Jones again admitted that he was the owner and operator of the CB
radio station, but stated that he was not the owner of the house and
that he had to refuse the inspection. Jones understood that refusal to
allow an inspection could result in a $7,000 forfeiture assessment.
After further conversation with the agents and the police officers,
Jones subsequently admitted to being the owner of the house. The
agents again requested that they be allowed to inspect the CB radio
station and reiterated that Jones's refusal to allow an inspection of
a CB radio station is a violation of section 95.426(a) of the Rules
and section 303 of the Act and is subject to a forfeiture. Jones
again denied the request to inspect his CB station. The agents then
gave Jones an oral warning and issued a second on-scene "Notice of
Unlicensed Operation" ("Second Notice") to Jones. The Second Notice
expressly warned that Jones's refusal to allow inspection of his radio
equipment violated section 303 of the Act and included the full
text of section 303. Jones refused to accept a copy of the Second
Notice and the agents left the document on a wooden yard border. The
agents then left the premises.

7. On September 1, 2010, the San Francisco Office received another
complaint from the Merced County Fire Department stating that Jones
had resumed CB radio station operation at approximately 5:30 p.m., and
interference within the Merced County Fire Department radio
communication system equipment had also resumed.

================================================== =======

In March of 2011, The FCC issued a NAL to Ira Jones ( one year after enforcement started, (almost 2 years after the first complaint from the fire department) in the Amount of $7000.00.
They have Yet to collect, nor have they inspected his station, nor have they removed him or his equipment from the Air.
I live Near Merced, and Mr Jones ( CB Handle Falcon) is still on the air, almost every day with a local signal of 20 over S-9, It is easy to find him on 27.165 as you drive through Merced.
He is very proud of the fact that he told the "Fed`s To F Off" when they wanted to inspect his station and lets everyone in the local community know that they have not, and will not remove him from the air.
Granted, given enough time this "might" get settled, But a friend that is involved with the fire department has told me that they plan up-grade there radio equipment at the station at cost to the city to resolve the issue.

Now, if this is the level of enforcement that is going on over A Known rouge operator, that the FCC has documented proof of interference to Emergency Services ( Fire and Rescue in the City of Merced) whats makes anyone think that they will use resources to go hunt down random guys that are just running 100 watts or so on 27 MHz or someone acting like a drunken ass on the air.
It is about money, and the government is strapped for cash....the most pressing thing on the FCC`s mind is selling spectrum to entity's for the all mighty dollar.
CB and Ham radio has become a burden to the FCC, that they do not have time for.
Why do you think the amateur community has been turned over to "self policing" ?

73
Jeff

Now, this example shows that they DO carry out enforcement, but this guy more or less put up a big neon sign and lit it up..." I AM A STUPID SHIT COME GET ME "
The first time they went to his home, if he had stopped, it might have been the end of it....at some point he might still get it.
I do know that the Fire Dept has changed some of the equipment they use, so it may no longer be a problem for them....but he is still there.

Like I said Some one has to become a real pain in the ASS to get them to spend $$ on this part of the radio spectrum.

73
Jeff

 

[Eastside]

It's funny isn't it. Extra ticket hams can cause harmful interference on any frequency, I've heard it too many times. There's even a few on 38lsb that cause constant aggravation.
That Chester molester or whatever he calls himself is about to get his call sign announced on 38 by some local hams that are tired of him.
But a cb'er causes interference in the ten meter band, watch out!
I agree they should stop that, but ticket holders should stop as well.
Off the soap box now, enjoy the hobby and if you hear someone here in the states or china, go for it. If the conditions are good, that can happen well under cb radio watt limit or with power.

Several years ago, sitting at one of the Indiana hospitals on break. I believe it was Dxman I heard and called to. We had a very short qso and I was running 100w I believe.
When I went back into the surgery department, it was a buzz with excited chatter about TW350 talking with a Larry on the west coast somewhere. I was all over the hospital intercom. You know that didn't happen again. I just said huh, there this thing called skip and it must have gotten in the system. Scared me enough to not transmit there again.

I was told back when I got my first CB back in the 70s not to transmit around hospitals.
I guess if you get in bed with the feds you are given a longer chain to play?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I was told back when I got my first CB back in the 70s not to transmit around hospitals.
I guess if you get in bed with the feds you are given a longer chain to play?

Yeah there was a lot of false info and just plain conjecture going around back then. Almost as much as what is going around today.

 

[Eastside]

Yeah there was a lot of false info and just plain conjecture going around back then. Almost as much as what is going around today.

CK don't mess with my core beliefs. j/k

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

CK don't mess with my core beliefs. j/k

The first thing I thought of about your first post was the banning of cell phones in hospitals yet the docs were still allowed to use them, the paramedics were still allowed to use their radios and phones and security was still allowed to used their radios yet a visitor's cell phone would wipe out the diagnostic imaging machines and throw pacemakers into fits. :headbang

 

[Eastside]

The first thing I thought of about your first post was the banning of cell phones in hospitals yet the doc were still allowed to use them, the paramedics were still allowed to use their radios and phones and security was still allowed to used their radios yet a visitor's cell phone would wipe out the diagnostic imaging machines and throw pacemakers into fits. :headbang

I guess it cuts down on people walking around with phones glued to their heads.

I am the opposite....I cannot go near a hospital with an mri....I am wired together.

 

[K9GAS]

Yeah, they've pretty much have all that under control now. All the hospitals I work still have no cell phone in the OR, only lounge. But myself and the physicians I work with still do. No problems. I think management just wants everyone to pay attention and not be playing Angry Birds or something.
The patients are asleep!
"my joking does not represent any real or imaginary situations".

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

Well Psycho..

Then you are indeed doing something wrong and or have extremely bad luck.

 

[Eastside]

I do not know if this is true....but other cbers have told me the fcc fuzz drive white suv's with a glass dome on top.....I seen that vehicle once but thought it was google earth and waved like a hick with a big grin.