FCC Raids "Datz Hits Radio"

[FTL_Ian]

http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2196494&spid=24698

Government Seizes Radio Equipment From Boston Pirate

Typically when a pirate gets in trouble with the law, the FCC issues a notice within a flurry of other notices. The agency doesn't seem to get too riled up over it, a lot of the times using the same technical attorney verbiage just inserting the latest pirate and fine amount. Yesterday was a different story. The government went out of its way to issue a specific press release, from a United States attorney, on a specific pirate. Clearly this was one pirate the government wanted to make an example of. And that all might have to do with the interference the pirate was causing at Logan airport in Boston.

The government seized the equipment from "Datz Hits Radio 99.7" after a warrant was executed at a residential building at 25 Outlook Road in the Mattpan area of Boston. According to an affidavit filed with the civil complaint, the radio broadcasting equipment was first discovered by FCC officials at another address in Boston. After FCC officials warned the operators they were broadcasting illegally and asked them to shut down the station, the equipment was moved to 25 Outlook Road where the illegal broadcasting resumed. The government did not name the pirates in the release.

The forfeiture action was brought after complaints were received from a licensed broadcaster about interference with its radio signal, and from the Federal Aviation Administration who complained of interference with radio communications at Logan Airport. “It is easy to take for granted the variety and quality of sound we enjoy in local radio stations. Underlying this is the licensing authority of the FCC, which ultimately ensures that
legitimate stations can operate without interference from pirate stations,” said U.S. Attorney
Carmen M. Ortiz.