February 12, 2025

This Week in Amateur Radio

North America's Premiere Amateur Radio News Magazine

FCC Upholds Forfeiture Order Against Amateur Licensee

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has upheld the record fine it proposed in 2022 for an Idaho-based amateur radio operator for intentionally interfering with radio communications directing fire suppression efforts.

In a Forfeiture Order released in early January, the Commission affirmed its original civil penalty of $34,000 against Jason Frawley, a licensee of amateur radio station WA7QC, “for willfully and repeatedly operating without authorization and interfering with the radio communications of the United States Forest Service in 2021.”

Specifically, Frawley was found responsible for interfering with the radio communications of the U.S. Forest Service and the Idaho Department of Lands during efforts to direct fire suppression on a 1000-acre wildfire on national forest land outside of Elk River, Idaho in 2021.

Read more – InCompliance: https://bit.ly/41cl1xv