Brooklyn Pirate Faces Hefty Fine

The FCC has reaffirmed a $10,000 fine against the Rev. Yvon Louis of the Calvary Tabernacle church in Brooklyn, N.Y. for operating an unauthorized transmitter on frequencies 93.7 MHz, 88.1 MHz and 90.1 MHz. The FCC warned Louis in 2001 to stop broadcasting without a license. Louis said he operated the stations on weekends using a Part 15 low-power transmitter. The commission said his transmissions exceeded field strength limits for non-licensed, low-power Part 15 transmitters. The agency reaffirmed the fine because it said Louis continued to operate the unauthorized stations despite several warnings.