SB QST @ ARL $ARLB044 ARLB044 FCC fines Florida man $20,000 ZCZC AG44 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 44 ARLB044 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT July 16, 1999 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB044 ARLB044 FCC fines Florida man $20,000 The FCC has levied a $20,000 fine on a Florida man for violations stemming from alleged unlicensed operation on Amateur Radio frequencies. William Flippo of Jupiter is accused of willful operation of an unlicensed radio station on 28.375 MHz, willful and malicious interference with ongoing Amateur Radio communications, and with failing to let FCC representatives inspect his radio equipment. All of the alleged violations are said to have occurred June 8, 1999. The FCC's Compliance and Information Bureau has been investigating complaints from hams in the Jupiter area for nearly two years. After experiencing intentional interference on 10 and 2 meters, local hams provided the Commission with audio tapes and the results of close-in monitoring and direction finding. Subsequently, an FCC agent used direction-finding techniques to determine that intentional interference to amateur traffic ''was occurring and that the intentional interference was being transmitted from the residence of William Flippo.'' The FCC agent, accompanied by a local sheriff's deputy, attempted to inspect the radio equipment at Flippo's residence on June 8, but Flippo reportedly refused to allow the inspection. Flippo has 30 days to respond to the FCC Notice, sent July 12 by FCC Tampa District Director Ralph M. Barlow. NNNN /EX