FCC Report 10/15: First Two PIRATE Act Fines Upheld
Pirate Actions
The first two pirate operators to have fines proposed under the PIRATE Act in March have had their penalties upheld.
César Ayora and Luis Angel Ayora of Queens NY had been issued the maximum penalty possible of $2,316,034 for operating “Radio Impacto 2” on 91.9 and then 105.5. The Ayoras failed to respond to the original Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture. The FCC notes that their certified letter was returned unopened, but the first-class mailing was not.
Luis Angel Ayora was previously issued a $20,000 fine in 2015 which he did not pay. In 2016, U.S. Marshals executed a warrant and seized their equipment, but they soon resumed operations with the FCC Enforcement Bureau noting regular operations including advertising the station for at least 25 weeks and continuing to operate to this day. The station’s website even noted that the brothers founded the first Ecuadorian FM radio station in New York City in 2008 and the site tied César to the operation whereas previously the FCC only thought Luis Angel Ayora operated the station.
An identical situation played out in La Grande OR where Thomas Barnes had an $80,000 forfeiture proposed against him for operating “Pirate Radio Eastern Oregon” on 92.3 and then 100.5. After multiple warnings from the FCC, Barnes finally ceased operation in April 2022 after the owner of the RV park where his transmitter was located was notified of the their potential liability under the PIRATE Act with the FCC using videos Barnes posted as the ‘Eastern Oregon Radio Pirate’ in their investigation. Barnes too failed to respond to the FCC’s notice.
Silent Notifications
Volunteer Broadcasting Inc.’s 89.7 WJHO Alexander City AL (Move to new studio)
First Assembly of God’s 90.9 WFAZ Goodwater AL (Move to new studio)
Lifestyle Education Academy International’s 98.5 WLSB Augusta IL (Financial difficulties)
WNET’s 88.7 WEER Montauk NY (Purchasing and installing equipment to simulcast 88.3 WLIW-FM Southampton)
Bicoastal Media’s 1440 KYVL Medford OR (Tower lease ended; towers being demolished)
AM Changes
Carlos Lopez’s 1300 KHTW Lumberton TX proposes to dismantle one of its three towers, while de-tuning another. […]
