FCC targets restaurant for ham radio band cordless phone

A US restaurant is facing a $10,000 fine from the FCC for operating transmitting equipment on 2 meters without a license.

The case involves a restaurant which apparently had been using a so-called "long-range cordless telephone" to communicate with its delivery vehicle.

The FCC says the telephone in question - said to have been obtained outside the US and not FCC certificated - operated within the 2-meter satellite sub-band at 145.8376 MHz.

In 2001, following numerous complaints from the amateur community, the ARRL asked the FCC to investigate and "take appropriate action" against several companies it alleged were marketing similar telephone devices via the Internet.

According to the FCC, an agent visited the establishment and inspected the radio transmitting equipment in the presence of the restaurant manager. "The agent found that the restaurant was operating a long-distance cordless telephone system," the FCC said.

The Commission says the manager told the agent he installed the long-range cordless telephone system so that his employees could answer customers' telephone calls while making deliveries.

Applying its forfeiture policies and the statutory factors, the FCC said the $10,000 fine was warranted. The restaurant was given 30 days to pay the fine or to seek a reduction or cancellation.

Similar devices have been heard operating on the 2m band in Australia.

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Source: Wireless Institute of Australia