FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ENFORCEMENT BUREAU NORTHEAST REGION Columbia Office 9200 Farm House Lane Columbia, Maryland 21046 April 23, 2012 Frank Edward Knight Springfield, Virginia NOTICE OF UNLICENSED OPERATION Case Number: EB-FIELDNER-12-00000485 Document Number: W201232340002 The Columbia Office received a complaint alleging that your Citizens Band (CB) radio station was being operated illegally in Springfield, Virginia. As described below, agents from the Enforcement Bureau’s Columbia Office found during an investigation that you were operating your CB station at your residence in Springfield, Virginia in a manner that voided your authorization to operate. CB Rule 11, 47 C.F.R. § 95.411, provides that CB operators shall not attach to their CB stations external radio frequency power amplifiers (linear amplifiers) or any other devices which are capable of amplifying a CB station’s signal1 and that use of a linear amplifier voids the authority to operate.2 Operators are presumed to have used a linear amplifier if the linear amplifier is in the operator’s possession or on the operator’s premises and there is other evidence that the station was operated overpowered.3 On March 7, 2012, agents from this office conducted an inspection of your CB station and observed that a linear amplifier, which had an output power of 400 watts, was attached to your CB station. You admitted to the agents that you used the linear amplifier. You are hereby warned that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid radio station authorization constitutes a violation of 47 U.S.C. § 301 and could subject you to severe penalties, including, but not limited to, substantial monetary fines, in rem arrest action against the offending radio equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment. (see 47 U.S.C. §§ 401, 501, 503 and 510). UNLICENSED OPERATION OF THIS RADIO STATION MUST BE DISCONTINUED IMMEDIATELY AND SHALL NOT RESUME. Pursuant to Section 308(b) of the Act, you have 15 days from the date of this letter to respond advising what corrective actions you have taken to eliminate the observed violations of Commission Rules. Your response should be sent to the address in the letterhead and reference the listed case and document number. Under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3), we are informing you that the Commission’s staff will use all relevant material information before it to determine what, if any, enforcement action is required to ensure your compliance with FCC Rules. This will include any information that you disclose in your reply. 1 47 C.F.R. § 95.411(a). 2 47 C.F.R. § 95.411(b). 3 47 C.F.R. §§ 95.411(c). 2 You may contact this office if you have any questions. Salomon Satche District Director Columbia Office Northeast Region Enforcement Bureau Attachments: Excerpts from the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended Enforcement Bureau, "Inspection Fact Sheet", March 2005