*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 30357* Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of Patrick S. Green 2711 2 nd Ave., S. E. Naples, Florida ) ) ) ) ) File Number EB- 02- TP- 558 NAL/ Acct. No. 200332700019 FRN 0008547002 NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE Released: April 14, 2003 By the Enforcement Bureau, Tampa Office: I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (“ NAL”), we find Patrick S. Green apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($ 10,000) for willful violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“ Act”). 1 Specifically, we find Patrick S. Green apparently liable for the operation of an FM broadcast station on the frequency 100.5 MHz without Commission authorization. II. BACKGROUND 2. On October 23, 2002, agents from the Commission’s Tampa Field Office (“ Tampa Office”) investigated a complaint alleging that an unlicensed radio station was transmitting on the frequency 100.5 MHz in the Fort Myers, Florida area. A search of Commission records showed no license issued for 100.5 MHz in the Fort Myers area. Using a mobile direction- finding vehicle, the agents detected an FM radio station operating on the frequency 100.5 MHz and traced the station’s signal to a residence located at 2830 Cranford Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida. A two- section FM broadcast- type antenna was mounted on a metal pipe attached to a tree in the front yard at the residence. Based on field strength measurements taken by the agents of the station’s signal, a Commission authorization was required to operate the station. 2 Immediately thereafter, the agents conducted an inspection of the radio station. A man identified as Patrick S. Green answered the door. Mr. Green stated that he was a “DJ” and had been operating the radio station. Inside the residence, the agents found an FM broadcast transmitter in operation. The agents verbally warned Mr. Green about the unlicensed radio operation. After returning to their direction- finding vehicle, the agents confirmed that the unlicensed station was no longer operating. Subsequently, the Tampa Office received a written statement from the owners of the residence at 2830 Cranford Avenue. The owners stated that Mr. Green leased and occupied one of the units of this property and that Mr. Green operated a radio station at that location. III. DISCUSSION 1 47 U. S. C. § 301. 2 See 47 C. F. R. § 15.239. 1 2 3. Section 301 of the Act sets forth generally that no person shall use or operate any apparatus for the transmission of energy of communications or signals by radio within the United States except under and in accordance with the Act and with a license. On October 23, 2002, Patrick S. Green operated radio transmitting equipment on the frequency 100.5 MHz without benefit of the required Commission authorization. 4. Based on the evidence before us, we find that on October 23, 2002, Patrick S. Green willfully 3 violated Section 301 of the Act by operating radio transmission apparatus without a license. 5. Pursuant to Section 1.80( b)( 4) of the Rules, 4 the base forfeiture amount for operating a radio station without a Commission authorization is $10,000. In assessing the monetary forfeiture amount, we must also take into account the statutory factors set forth in Section 503( b)( 2)( D) of the Act, which include the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation, and with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other such matters as justice may require. 5 Considering the entire record and applying the factors listed above, this case warrants a $10,000 forfeiture. IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 6. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED THAT, pursuant to Section 503( b) of the Act, 6 and Sections 0.111, 0.311 and 1.80 of the Rules, 7 Patrick S. Green is hereby NOTIFIED of this APPARENT LIABILITY FOR A FORFEITURE in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($ 10,000) for willful violation of Section 301 the Act by operating a radio station without Commission authorization. 7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT, pursuant to Section 1.80 of the Rules, within thirty days of the release date of this NAL, Patrick S. Green SHALL PAY the full amount of the proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. 8. Payment of the forfeiture may be made by mailing a check or similar instrument, payable to the order of the Federal Communications Commission, to the Forfeiture Collection Section, Finance Branch, Federal Communications Commission, P. O. Box 73482, Chicago, Illinois 60673- 7482. The payment should note the NAL/ Acct. No. and FRN referenced above. Requests for payment of the full amount of this NAL under an installment plan should be sent to: Chief, Revenue and Receivables Operations Group, 445 12th 3 Section 312( f)( 1) of the Act, 47 U. S. C. § 312( f)( 1), which applies equally to Section 503( b) of the Act, provides that “[ t] he term ‘willful, ’ when used with reference to the commission or omission of any act, means the conscious and deliberate commission or omission of such act, irrespective of any intent to violate any provision of this Act….” See Southern California Broadcasting Co., 6 FCC Rcd 4387 (1991). 4 47 C. F. R. § 1.80( b)( 4). 5 47 U. S. C. § 503( b)( 2)( D). 6 47 U. S. C. § 503( b). 7 47 C. F. R. §§ 0.111, 0.311, 1.80. 2 3 Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. 8 9. The response, if any, must be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 445 12 th Street SW, Washington DC 20554, Attn: Enforcement Bureau- Technical & Public Safety Division and MUST INCLUDE THE NAL/ Acct. No. referenced above. 10. The Commission will not consider reducing or canceling a forfeiture in response to a claim of inability to pay unless the petitioner submits: (1) federal tax returns for the most recent three- year period; (2) financial statements prepared according to generally accepted accounting practices (“ GAAP”); or (3) some other reliable and objective documentation that accurately reflects the petitioner’s current financial status. Any claim of inability to pay must specifically identify the basis for the claim by reference to the financial documentation submitted. 11. Under the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Pub L. No. 107- 198, 116 Stat. 729 (June 28, 2002), the FCC is engaged in a two- year tracking process regarding the size of entities involved in forfeitures. If you qualify as a small entity and if you wish to be treated as a small entity for tracking purposes, please so certify to us within thirty (30) days of this NAL, either in your response to the NAL or in a separate filing to be sent to the Technical & Public Safety Division. Your certification should indicate whether you, including your parent entity and its subsidiaries, meet one of the definitions set forth in the list provided by the FCC’s Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO) set forth in Attachment A of this Notice of Apparent Liability. This information will be used for tracking purposes only. Your response or failure to respond to this question will have no effect on your rights and responsibilities pursuant to Section 503( b) of the Communications Act. If you have questions regarding any of the information contained in Attachment A, please contact OCBO at (202) 418- 0990. 12. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT a copy of this NAL shall be sent by regular mail and Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested to Patrick S. Green, 2711 2 nd Ave., SE, Naples, Florida 34117, and an additional copy to Patrick S. Green, 2830 Cranford Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida 33901. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Ralph M. Barlow District Director Tampa Field Office, Enforcement Bureau Attachment 8 See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1914. 3