A man faces a $40,000 FCC fine for allegedly operating a pirate radio station in Waterbury, Conn.
The commission has finalized the penalty against Efrain Gonzalez for operating “Lapoderosa 89.1 FM.”
In 2024 agents from the Boston Field Office had traced the source of the signal to a Seymour Street address. They found it was rebroadcasting the online stream of 630 WUNO(AM) from San Juan, P.R.
On a second visit, the agents said they again observed the signal. On a third visit, they spoke with Gonzalez at the location. The agents said he acknowledged that he did not have a license to broadcast. The agents observed a transmitter displaying the 89.1 frequency at the location and exceeding legal limits.
Agents also found promotion on Facebook for the station, as well as the station’s streaming site, which linked Gonzalez.
In January 2025 the FCC issued a notice of apparent liability, as we reported at the time. A copy of the notice was sent to Gonzalez by first class mail and certified mail, with return receipt requested. The FCC says the certified mailing was claimed, and the first class mail was not returned.
But Gonzalez has not filed a response, and now the commission has finalized the fine. If it is not collected, the commission may refer the case to the Justice Department for collection enforcement.
