The FCC has upheld a $15,000 fine for Luis Ernesto Rivas Jr. for operating a pirate station on 89.1 MHz in Miami.
The case began in March when agents from the Enforcement Bureau’s Miami office traced the source of illegal RF transmissions to an FM antenna mounted on the rooftop of a condo building. They heard a DJ call the station “The Streets FM.”
Joined by the building staff, they went to the roof and also saw an FM transmitter, coax cable and a laptop, with the screen displaying a web page stating “Underground Station in Miami. … Go to www.thestreetsfm.com.” Agents traced the site to Rivas’ home address and double-checked a posted photo to his Florida driver’s license photo.
Later that day, a person tried to claim the transmission gear from the condo staff and the staff identified the person as Rivas to the agents.
This June, the commission levied the $15,000 penalty.
The agency says Rivas hasn’t responded to the original notice so it upheld the fine and directed him to pay within 30 days or the case may be turned over to the Justice Dept. for action.
