SB QST @ ARL $ARLB038
ARLB038 FCC proposes additional fine for former amateur licensee

ZCZC AG38
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 38  ARLB038
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  December 10, 2004
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB038
ARLB038 FCC proposes additional fine for former amateur licensee

Fast on the heels of a $10,000 Forfeiture Order (FO), the FCC has
now proposed to fine Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell, California,
an additional $21,000 for interfering with Amateur Radio
communications. Gerritsen has been the target of numerous complaints
of insistent interference to numerous ham radio repeaters. The FCC
affirmed the $10,000 forfeiture in October.  The newly proposed fine
stems from further specific alleged instances of interference
earlier this year.

In its December 2 Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL), the FCC
concluded that Gerritsen willfully and repeatedly violated Section
333 of the Communications Act of 1934 by maliciously interfering
with the communications of authorized Amateur Service users.

In 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) swiftly
rescinded its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen after
learning of his earlier state conviction for interfering with police
communications. His application remains on hold for now. But
Gerritsen maintains erroneously that the FCC can't take away his
operating privileges without a hearing.

The NAL cites three specific instances of interference attributed to
Gerritsen and mentioned several others in proposing the huge fine,
which includes an "upward adjustment" from the base forfeiture
amount of $7,000. "Despite warnings and a prior NAL and Forfeiture
Order, Gerritsen's unauthorized willful and malicious interfering
radio operations have been ongoing for several months," said the
NAL.

Several times, FCC agents have tracked interfering transmissions to
Gerritsen's residence. Commission representatives have advised him
that he does not have authority to transmit on amateur frequencies
and warned him to keep off the ham bands.

Gerritsen has not been heard on LA-area repeaters for more than
three weeks now, and there's evidence he's staying south of the US
border--at least for the time being. The FCC gave Gerritsen 30 days
to pay or appeal the proposed fine.
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