FCC revokes licence of convicted child molester

The FCC has revoked the amateur radio license of an Indiana radio ham who was convicted several years ago of molesting a child.

Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V, has the details:

Lonnie Keeney, KB9RFO, will have to surrender his ham license after the FCC ruled "he lacks the requisite character and qualifications to be and remain a commission licensee."

Kris Anne Monteith, the FCC's chief of the Enforcement Bureau, issued the ruling after a more than two-year process that started with a compaint filed in 2006.

The FCC investigated and found Kenney pleaded guilty in December 2002 to inappropriate contact with a 5-year-old.

He was sentenced to six years in prison. Because of his conviction, Kenney is required to register as a sex offender and must register his address with law enforcement.

He was also barred from any contact with youth during a period of probation which ended last May.

In her order filed with the commission, Monteith said the character of a licensee is one of the factors the commission considers in determining whether a person should be granted an operating license.

She noted the commission has applied such character standards developed for broadcasters to applicants and licensees of the Amateur Radio Service.

Monteith said since Keeney acknowledged his conviction and continues to be supervised by law enforcement as a sex offender, his license should be revoked.

The revocation order was adopted Feb. 25.

Mark Abramowicz, NT3V
Amateur Radio Newsline

Keeney’s license revocation is effective on the 40th day after release of the revocation order, unless he files a Petition for Reconsideration. He also has the option of filing an Application for Review within thirty 30 days. If he does either, the effective date of the revocation order will be suspended pending further order of the Commission.

Source: ARNewsline, FCC