STATEMENT OF
CHAIRWOMAN JESSICA ROSENWORCEL

Re:	In the Matter of Dexter Blake, Mount Vernon, New York, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, File No.: EB-FIELDNER-17-00023354; In the Matter of Matthew Bowen, Brooklyn, New York, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, File No.: EB-FIELDNER-22-00034507; In the Matter of Johnny Peralta, Bronx, New York, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, File No.: EB-FIELDNER-18-00026578 (November 15, 2023)
	At the Federal Communications Commission we are stewards of the public airwaves.  To ensure that this essential resource is broadly available, we have rules that govern its use.  And for those who fail to follow the rules, there are consequences.  

	In the PIRATE Act, Congress upped the ante.  It increased the penalties for those who transmit unauthorized signals over the FM and AM radio bands because they can compromise public trust in this service and jeopardize the broadcasting of emergency alerts.  This means higher fines and more regular enforcement sweeps in our largest radio markets.  

Here we propose fines against three unauthorized radio operators in New York that are the direct result of an enforcement sweep taken pursuant to this new law.  They add up to more than $6,412,000 in penalties.  They also demonstrate that the agency’s field agents are taking their broadcast enforcement duties under the PIRATE Act and that we are taking our responsibility as stewards of the public airwaves seriously.  

	I want to thank Representative Velazquez, Representative Rice, Representative Bilirakis, Senator Peters, and Senator Daines for their work on the PIRATE Act.  I also want to thank the Field Regional Management and Agents of our New York Field Office for their work on these investigations.  In addition, I want to share my appreciation for other staff at the agency responsible for these actions, including Reggie Breshears, Loyaan Egal, Robert Keller, Jeremy Marcus, David Marks, Ryan McDonald, and Michael Rhodes from the Enforcement Bureau; and William Dever and David Konczal from the Office of General Counsel.