Sun, Jan 22, 2012
Non-Certified FM Transmitter Interfered With Jacksonville
Center
The LightSquared/GPS battle isn't the only one which could
affect your ability to fly safely in IMC. The authorization of
low-power FM stations by the FCC starting in 2000 has resulted in
lots of churches and other non-profits putting up 100-watt FM
stations designed to cover a radius of about 3.5 miles. But many of
the licensees are on shoestring budgets, and shortcuts in
engineering or equipment selection can result in interference to
aviation communications and navigation.
Such a case is being settled in Dunnellon, Florida. WRLE-FM is
licensed to Power Ministries owner Anthony Downes, who's authorized
to broadcast at 94.9 MHz. But the FCC says that for three months in
2010, the station operated with a non-certified transmitter which
emitted spurious signals, interfering with Jacksonville Center's
communications on 133.75 MHz.
Worse, Radio World reports the FCC says the station
"deliberately disregarded" an agent’s request that it
immediately turn off the transmitter to stop the threat to air
traffic control, instead allowing the transmitter to operate
unlawfully for another 30 minutes.
The FCC proposed a penalty of $12,000, but Power Ministries
appealed, saying it could not afford the fine. The the FCC has
agreed to reduce the penalty to $1,500, but adds, "If Power
believes that the reduced forfeiture still poses a financial
hardship, it may request full payment in installments."
The FCC has certification standards for transmitters to be sure
their designs will not cause interference, a process somewhat
parallel to the FAA's certification of aircraft. Cheaper
transmitters which are not certified by the FCC are available on
the internet, and are a favorite of "pirate" radio operators, who
broadcast with no licenses whatsoever in defiance of the FCC. A
similar incident near Boston Logan International Airport in May of
2011 prompted the FCC to seek forfeiture of unlicensed broadcast
equipment.
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