Easy way to save $25,000

[mmckenna]

People like to claim the "FCC never enforces the rules". Well, here ya go. Easy way to save $25K is to not do stupid things with your radio.

"We impose a penalty of $25,000 against Jayme John Leon (Leon), the owner and operator of a Citizens Band Radio Service (CB) station in Rockford, Illinois."

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-456A1.pdf

 

[kc2asb]

There is probably more to this story, as antics like this go on all the time and enforcement is rare. Maybe there was a feud with other CB'ers and they tipped off the FCC

Now, if this is part of a wave of stepped enforcement (unlikely), I hope it extends to the amateur bands. Just last night a net I was listening to on 40m was being jammed by tuners, noise effects, etc. Sounded just like CB.

Edit to correct for errors

 

[AB5ID]

So much for delete, delete , delete -- even though the original offenses occurred in 2022.

 

[ramal121]

You should print that out and frame it. A rare document that may be worth something someday.

 

[kc2asb]

You should print that out and frame it. A rare document that may be worth something someday.

Agreed, a very rare document. Popular Communications had a monthly column where they reported FCC actions relevant to the hobby. Even in the late 80's into the 90's, there was maybe one report per month of the FCC enforcing the rules on the CB band. Often, it was a CB shop caught selling linear amplifiers and export radios. There were many more reports of pirate broadcasters being busted.

I've been reading the archived issues of S9 Magazine that date back to the 60's and 70's - at that time, there would be 20-30+ reports each month of FCC enforcement.

In 1983, the license requirement was eliminated and the FCC essentially washed their hands of CB.

If the FCC wanted to start busting CB'ers again, they could have a field day on the Ch 6 Superbowl. Lots of low hanging fruit there.

 

[spongella]

Agreed, a very rare document. Popular Communications had a monthly column where they reported FCC actions relevant to the hobby. Even in the late 80's into the 90's, there was maybe one report per month of the FCC enforcing the rules on the CB band. Often, it was a CB shop caught selling linear amplifiers and export radios or some Most of the enforcement actions were busts of pirate broadcasters.

I've been reading the archived issues of S9 Magazine that date back to the 60's and 70's - at that time, there would be 20-30+ reports each month of FCC enforcement.

In 1983, the license requirement was eliminated and the FCC essentially washed their hands of CB.

If the FCC wanted to start busting CB'ers again, they could have a field day on the Ch 6 Superbowl. Lots of low hanging fruit there.

Yes I also remember S9 magazine that included a section of FCC enforcement actions. Even not identifying with your callsign every 5 minutes as per the regs back then could get you an FCC "pink slip." One guy who's commonly on on Ch. 6 must be running a kilowatt.

 

[spongella]

Geeze...you can buy a lot of groceries for $25,000. That gotta' hurt. I guess it's a classic case of FAFO.

 

[kc2asb]

Yes I also remember S9 magazine that included a section of FCC enforcement actions. Even not identifying with your callsign every 5 minutes as per the regs back then could get you an FCC "pink slip." One guy who's commonly on on Ch. 6 must be running a kilowatt.

Exactly! They also busted operators for hobby use, shooting skip, having an antenna that was too high, etc. Lots of licenses revoked too. After a while, people just stopped giving their callsigns or didn't bother obtaining licenses in the first place. When "Convoy" and later "Smokey and the Bandit" came out, the CB band exploded in popularity and the FCC lost control.

Just in case you want to read them - S9 Magazine and Pop Comm archives.

CITIZENS BAND RADIO CB radio publications and catalogs

This is a collection of magazines, publications and catalogs about Citizens Band Radio including S9, CB Radio, CB and CB World

www.worldradiohistory.com

POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS: DX SWL and Utilities hobbyist maghazine

Popular Communications was a magazine with content relating to the radio hobby, including scanners, shortwave radio, CB, amateur radio, AM and FM broadcast band listening, radio history, and vintage radio restoration. The magazine existed between 1982 and 2013

www.worldradiohistory.com

 

[KD8DVR]

Yes I also remember S9 magazine that included a section of FCC enforcement actions. Even not identifying with your callsign every 5 minutes as per the regs back then could get you an FCC "pink slip." One guy who's commonly on on Ch. 6 must be running a kilowatt.

Some of them run a LOT more than one kW.

 

[MTS2000des]

The current FCC EB director of the western division is an FAFO guy. I took an ETA RFIM class at IWCE back in 2017. He was in that class.
Ira Newborn turned the floor over to him and he made this comment:

"the FCC has limited resources to conduct enforcement actions. But when we do, we come down hard and pull out all the stops"

Ways to ensure swift EB action (in this order):

Fork with public safety radio
Fork with cellular/PCS/AWS/telecom cartel owned spectrum
Fork with broadcast spectrum

Ham, CB and GMRS are at the bottom of that barrel but it's nice to see "FAFO" applied there too.

 

[mmckenna]

Ham, CB and GMRS are at the bottom of that barrel but it's nice to see "FAFO" applied there too.

Hate to say it, but that's where it belongs. I'd much rather the FCC focus on public safety interference first. Ham, CB, GMRS, hobby services and interference there isn't life threatening.

But, still nice to see it when it happens.

 

[Golay]

I had the FCC over my house when I was still at home. Sunday morning. I was a 16 year old that hung out on the "kiddie channel".

Fortunately I had heard they were out visiting and I hid my linear in my mom's dryer. They busted a bunch for little nothings. No callsign every so many minutes. Running power. I think a couple other rules. I had to write a letter back basically saying that if I used my callsign, no one would talk to me. Never heard anything back. Other kids (or their parents I guess) did get fines. But if I remember it really wasn't much.

 

[slowmover]

Hate to say it, but that's where it belongs. I'd much rather the FCC focus on public safety interference first. Ham, CB, GMRS, hobby services and interference there isn't life threatening.

But, still nice to see it when it happens.

“Life threatening” is a far larger issue on AM-19 than will ever be such on “public safety”.

Maui, Pacific Palisades and Boone, NC exposed that lie of badged speshulness. Plenty of other examples exist and go back before the invention of two way radio.

NRC gives ordinary men a tool they need to get past Skip interference. The impetus for the links below. Let’s stay together in desiring better conditions re RX/TX..

I guarantee there have been serious injury and deaths due to AM-19 interference. It sure ain’t from mobiles running 40W. I’ve linked images and videos plenty of times of the results from interference on 19 (“Oh, 19 is dead”, is non-subtle Enemy phrasing; the analogy to, “Four A.M. talking points”).

If FCC rule enforcement was legitimate it’d focus on actual bad actors. The original Act, the Agency and its history are as suspect as any other “regulatory body”.

It’s not any longer the America of old. Reasonable men not needing an excess of laws. The problems are more than what some bureaucratic theater cooked up to avoid DOGE is likely operative at present.

Right forum for advice
Right gear chosen
Right install performed
Reasonable operating habits.

Best Mobile 2025

A general: what should I recommend to friends who want high performance in Citizen Band? Let’s ballpark it at $500 entry. Will last longer than the time they own the automobile. Seatbelts, Concealed Carry, and CITIZEN BAND. This thread aimed at YOU, not the guy who knows even less. However...

forums.radioreference.com

SKIP Problems in Noise Abatement.

The discourtesy of screwing up AM-19. The understood Truckers Channel. Got 39 to 119 other channels before we consider freeband. The thread is not to whine and moan, but to introduce others new to CB how to deal with Skip overwhelming local comms. The exigencies of the road. Your experience...

forums.radioreference.com

.

 

[KevinC]

I had the FCC over my house when I was still at home. Sunday morning. I was a 16 year old that hung out on the "kiddie channel".

Fortunately I had heard they were out visiting and I hid my linear in my mom's dryer. They busted a bunch for little nothings. No callsign every so many minutes. Running power. I think a couple other rules. I had to write a letter back basically saying that if I used my callsign, no one would talk to me. Never heard anything back. Other kids (or their parents I guess) did get fines. But if I remember it really wasn't much.

How did you get a CB license at 16?

 

[bharvey2]

Wow, I haven't heard of THAT happening in a while. He really must have reached a new level of stupid behavior to wind up on the FCC's radar. I'll have to be on the lookout for his GoFundsMe page.

 

[Golay]

How did you get a CB license at 16?

Well ... probably my dad got it or something. Don't remember to tell you the truth. I know we did have a framed license on the wall.

 

[niceguy71]

Agreed, a very rare document. Popular Communications had a monthly column where they reported FCC actions relevant to the hobby. Even in the late 80's into the 90's, there was maybe one report per month of the FCC enforcing the rules on the CB band. Often, it was a CB shop caught selling linear amplifiers and export radios. There were many more reports of pirate broadcasters being busted.

I've been reading the archived issues of S9 Magazine that date back to the 60's and 70's - at that time, there would be 20-30+ reports each month of FCC enforcement.

In 1983, the license requirement was eliminated and the FCC essentially washed their hands of CB.

If the FCC wanted to start busting CB'ers again, they could have a field day on the Ch 6 Superbowl. Lots of low hanging fruit there.

not busting the channel 6 guys is a clear sign that the FCC just doesn't care, unless some other agency demands something be done

 

[niceguy71]

I lost any respect for the FCC when they did nothing about the guy in the desert on all day long tying up channel 19 across the entire country.... that was ridiculous I'm sure hundreds of people complained about that mud duck? or bench worker or window licker.... whatever he was.
maybe they did something to him???? but if they did they should have made an example out of him.... something like that I could give complete respect for.

 

[kc2asb]

not busting the channel 6 guys is a clear sign that the FCC just doesn't care, unless some other agency demands something be done

I agree. The only way I could see another agency demanding action is if there is interference from CB operators on one of the government frequencies above or below Ch 40.

 

[WSAC829]

I guess i’m in the minority here, but i like that the powerhouses tend to mostly stay on 3 channels. 6, 11, and 28. Can you imagine if they spread out to occupy all 40? I also try to make the best of it. Getting a response with your handle/numbers called on any of those channels with just a stock 100 watt or less radio puts a smile on my face. Nothing is going to change, so embrace it, make the best of it, and enjoy it.