SB QST @ ARL $ARLB068
ARLB068 Fines for 4 amateurs
 
ZCZC AG35
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 68  ARLB068
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  July 13, 1995
To all radio amateurs 
 
SB QST ARL ARLB068
ARLB068 Fines for 4 amateurs
 
Four amateurs cited by the Federal Communications Commission for
malicious interference on the 2-meter band have had the amounts of
their monetary forfeitures adjusted.
 
The four, all in the New Orleans area, were cited for transmissions
made in the spring of 1993.  In September 1993 all four received
Notices of Apparent Liability from the FCC's New Orleans office.
The FCC, after reviewing responses from all four, then issued
Notices of Forfeiture in November 1993, all in the amount of 2000
dollars.  All four appealed the NOFs.
 
While these appeals were pending, the Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit vacated the forfeiture guidelines that the New Orleans Field
Office had followed in the forfeitures, and on reconsideration, the
FCC's Compliance and Information Bureau reduced them.
 
On July 10, 1995, the FCC issued Orders in all four cases, noting
that the cases were based on information provided by the Amateur
Auxiliary, and saying that ''use of amateur volunteers for the
purposes of monitoring violations in the amateur service is
permitted by the (Communications) Act. In fact, the amateur radio
community has distinguished itself for its self policing
operations.''
 
The FCC reduced the fine for Joseph F. Richard III, N5JNX, from 2000
dollars to 1000 dollars, rejecting his contention that tape
recordings used by the FCC in the case are ''inaccurate or
misleading.''
 
Vernon Paroli, KA5OWW, had his forfeiture amount reduced to 700
dollars, based on his claim of being financially unable to pay the
2,000 dollar forfeiture originally assessed.
 
The forfeiture amount for Will T. Blanton, N5ROC, was reduced from
2,000 dollars to 1,000 dollars.  That of John B. Genovese, WB5LOC,
was lowered to 500 dollars, because of the shorter duration of his
transmissions.
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