Ex-ham flees after FCC triples original fine

Fast on the heels of a $10,000 Forfeiture Order (FO), the FCC has now proposed to fine Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell, California, an additional $21,000 for interfering with Amateur Radio communications.

Gerritsen has been the target of copious complaints of insistent interference to numerous ham radio repeaters. The FCC affirmed the $10,000 forfeiture in October. The latest proposed fine stems from further specific alleged instances of interference earlier this year.

"Gerritsen's threats against other operators and his abusive use of amateur frequencies are the antithesis of good amateur practice and engineering," the FCC said in its December 2 Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL). The FCC concluded that Gerritsen willfully and repeatedly violated
§333 of the Communications Act of 1934 by maliciously interfering with the communications of authorized Amateur Service users.

In 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) swiftly rescinded its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen after learning of his earlier state conviction for interfering with police communications. His application remains on hold for now. As a result of the conviction,
which he's appealed, Gerritsen ultimately spent some time in jail. But he continues to maintain erroneously that the FCC can't take away his operating privileges without a hearing, and that he still has a ham ticket.

The NAL cites three specific instances of interference attributed to Gerritsen and mentioned several others in proposing the huge fine, which includes an "upward adjustment" from the base forfeiture amount of $7000.
"Despite warnings and a prior NAL and Forfeiture Order, Gerritsen's unauthorized willful and malicious interfering radio operations have been ongoing for several months," said the NAL, signed by FCC Los Angeles Office District Director Catherine Deaton.

In one instance in September, the FCC said, a complaint from an ARRL Official Observer alleged that Gerritsen "deliberately and maliciously interfered with the Young Hams Net" on a 2-meter repeater. On other occasions, an individual identifying himself as Jack Gerritsen and/or
using the KG6IRO call sign, has monopolized various LA-area repeaters for long periods, the FCC said, preventing other users from accessing the machines.

Several times, FCC agents have tracked interfering transmissions to Gerritsen's residence. Commission representatives have advised him that he does not have authority to transmit on amateur frequencies and warned him to keep off the ham bands.

Gerritsen has not been heard on LA-area repeaters for more than three weeks now, and there's evidence he's staying south of the US border - at least for the time being. The FCC gave Gerritsen 30 days to pay or appeal the proposed fine.

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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