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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 WILLIAM  FLIPPO  SENTENCED  TO  15  MONTHS  CONFINEMENT  AND  FINED  $25,000  FOR  UNLICENSED  OPERATION  ON  AMATEUR  RADIO  FREQUENCIES  AND 
 INTENTIONALLY  INTERFERING  WITH  AMATEUR  RADIO  COMMUNICATIONS 


 Washington,  D.  C.  -  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  announced  that  an  investigation  by  the  FCC’s  Enforcement  Bureau  has  led  to  the  conviction  and  sentencing  of 
 William  Flippo  on  eight  counts,  including  unlicensed  operation  and  causing  intentional  interference  to  Amateur  Radio  Communications. 


 The  FCC’s  investigation  resulted  in  the  arrest  of  Flippo  in  July  2000.  The  trial  began  June  10,  2002,  and  ended  June  19,  2002,  with  the  conviction.  Flippo  was  remanded  into  custody  pending 
 the  sentencing  hearing.  Flippo,  a  resident  of  Jupiter,  Florida,  has  now  been  sentenced  to  15  months  imprisonment  and  a  $25,000  fine.  Following  completion  of  his  15  month  sentence,  Flippo  will  be 
 required  to  serve  a  one  year  period  of  supervised  release. 
 The  conviction  is  the  result  of  an  investigation  that  began  in  November  of  1998.  The  Commission’s  Tampa  Florida  Office  received  complaints  from  the  Jupiter-  Tequesta  Florida 
 Repeater  Group,  a  70-  member  amateur  radio  club  alleging  that  Flippo  was  intentionally  interfering  with  their  communications  on  two  different  radio  bands. 


 The  operation  of  an  unlicensed  broadcast  station  is  a  violation  of  Section  301  of  the  Communications  Act  of  1934,  as  amended.  Operators  of  unlicensed  stations  may  be  subject  to 
 monetary  penalties  of  up  to  $11,000  per  violation.  In  addition,  unlicensed  operators  may  be  subject  to  criminal  sanctions,  including  fines  and  imprisonment. 


 Willfully  or  maliciously  interfering  with  any  radio  communication  is  a  violation  of  Section  333  of  the  Communications  Act  of  1934,  as  amended  and  may  be  subject  to  the  same  penalties. 
 The  nation’s  Amateur  Radio  Operators  provide  a  valuable  community  service  especially  during  times  of  disasters  when  no  other  means  of  communications  may  be  available.  It  is  critical, 
 therefore,  that  the  airways  be  free  of  intentional  interference. 
 -  FCC  - 
 Enforcement  Bureau  Contact:  John  Winston  at  (202)  418-  7450  /  TTY  1(  888)  835-  5322 


 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  September  4,  2002  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  John  Winston  (202)  418-  7450 
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