FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ENFORCEMENT BUREAU WESTERN REGION Seattle District Office 11410 NE 122nd Way, Suite 312 Kirkland, WA 98034-6927 (425) 820-6271 June 5, 2012 Free Radio Olympia Olympia, Washington 98506 NOTICE OF UNLICENSED OPERATION Case Number: EB-FIELDWR-12-00002592 Document Number: W201232980009 The Seattle District Office received information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 98.5 MHz was allegedly operating in Olympia, Washington. On May 18, 2012, an agent from this office confirmed by direction finding techniques that radio signals on frequency 98.5 MHz were emanating from the property at 2314 Capitol Way South, Olympia, Washington. The Commission’s records show that no license was issued for operation of a broadcast station at this location on 98.5 MHz in Olympia, Washington. Radio stations must be licensed by the FCC pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 301. The only exception to this licensing requirement is for certain transmitters using or operating at a power level that complies with the standards established in Part 15 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 15.1 et seq. The operation on frequency 98.5 MHz was measured on May 18, 2012, at 757,803 microvolts per meter (µV/m) at 3 meters. This exceeds the allowable unlicensed limit of 250 µV/m at 3 meters established in Part 15. Thus, this station is operating in violation of 47 U.S.C. § 301. You are hereby warned that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid radio station authorization constitutes a violation of the Federal laws cited above and could subject the operator of this illegal operation to severe penalties, including, but not limited to, substantial monetary forfeitures, 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. You have ten (10) days from the date of this notice to respond with any evidence that you have authority to operate granted by the FCC. 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. You may contact this office if you have any questions. Leo Cirbo Acting District Director Seattle District Office Western Region Enforcement Bureau Attachments: Excerpts from the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended Enforcement Bureau, "Inspection Fact Sheet," March 2005