The Federal Communications Commission has confirmed a fine of $10,000 in connection with the 2008 case of a pirate radio operation in Brooklyn.
The fine was handed to Jean Clerveau and Jocelyn Edwards for “providing services and facilities incidental to the operation of an unlicensed radio transmitter” — meaning the electricity to run the unlicensed radio transmitter on 90.5 MHz.
The FCC turned down their argument that the signal actually had originated across the street.
The commission said it had traced the signal on three dates to their location; that an antenna initially was visible on the roof, with a coaxial cable feeding into a second-floor window in the back of the building; and that the superintendent confirmed that the cable went to their apartment.
“Absent evidence that FCC agents’ direction findings and field strength measurements were in error, we stand by our agents’ determination that an unlicensed broadcast station was operating from apartment 2E” at that location on E. 19th Street in Brooklyn, the commission has ruled, confirming an earlier finding.
Clerveau and Edwards also argued that agents did not find any equipment during an inspection of the apartment in June, but the commission ruled that this was irrelevant in regards to the earlier illegal broadcasts.
