O’Rielly Keeps Pirate Radio on FCC Front Burner. InsideRadio
Efforts to get the FCC to address eradicating pirate radio in a much bigger way are starting to pay off. That’s according to FCC commissioner Michael O’Rielly who updated broadcasters on the vexing issue during a Tuesday speech at the NAB’s State Leadership Conference in Washington.
When it comes to enforcing the FCC’s rules against illegal radio operators, O’Rielly quoted “the great philosopher” Toby Keith, suggesting that what the FCC really needs is, “a little less talk and a lot more action.” But in addition to issuing more fines to pirates—who frequently ignore them, only to sprout up in another location—the commissioner said the problem should also be fought on other fronts. Stepped-up enforcement, in tandem with an outreach and education effort, “could be a real game changer,” O’Rielly said. “Legitimate companies and associations want nothing to do with facilitating illegal activities, but they may not be aware of the pervasiveness of this problem, the damage being done to consumers and legitimate broadcasters, the sophistication of some modern pirate operators or the seriousness of the potential consequences,” he said. Toward that end, the Commission and the Enforcement Bureau have been crafting an advisory document to clearly outline pirate radio policies. The communique will be used to spread the word to building owners, advertisers, political campaigns, concert promoters, venue operators and others that unknowingly enable pirate operators. “Be on the lookout for the results of this effort,” O’Rielly said.
The efforts can’t come soon enough, as the problem appears to be getting worse. There were 34 pirate radio stations operating in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and the Bronx alone in January 2015, according to FCC stats. Florida is another pirate radio hotbed. Radio delegations from New York and Florida voiced their concerns about the escalating threat during meetings with members of Congress on Tuesday as part of the NAB event. It’s a subject that has the attention of numerous legislators, including ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who has worked to keep pirate radio on the front burner at the FCC and on Capitol Hill.
-- *================================================ Duane Whittingham - N9SSN - Fort Mitchell, KY (ARES/RACES, EmComm, Skywarn & Red Cross) http://www.radiodude.info ================================================ *
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