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Radio amateur's complaint leads to
big fine for taxi company
A radio amateur's complaint of interference in the 70 cm
band has prompted the FCC to fine a Portland, Oregon, taxi company $12,000.
The FCC Forfeiture Order (NOF) released November 18 said
the violations involved Portland Taxicab's operation on 452.250 and 457.250
MHz without valid FCC authorization,
transmission of spurious emissions resulting in harmful interference to
an Amateur Radio station and failure to properly identify.
In March 2003, John N. Stein, AB7F, complained to the FCC's
Portland Office of interference in the vicinity of 440.700 to 440.780
MHz. An FCC agent traced the interfering signal to an apparently unauthorized
repeater station operating on 452.250/457.250 MHz. The agent also measured
spurious
emissions falling within the 70 cm amateur band at approximately 55 dB
below the repeater's 452.250 MHz transmitter.
The FCC traced the repeater's control point to Portland
Taxicab and issued oral warnings to the company's office manager, who
told the FCC the station, WPRJ576, would
change to its authorized frequencies and fix its transmitter.
When the problems continued, however, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability. In response, the taxi company did not dispute the violations
but said it had dismissed the office manager and resolved the interference
problem. The company also asked the FCC to cancel or reduce the proposed
fine, but the FCC determined the forfeiture should stand.
"The improper actions by an employee cannot save Portland Taxicab
from responsibility for its violations," the FCC concluded. It also
said the company failed to submit acceptable documentation of its inability
to pay. The taxi company was given 30 days to pay the fine.
Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The
American Radio Relay League
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