Report No. CI 98-21    COMPLIANCE AND INFORMATION ACTION        November 9, 1998

             FCC SHUTS DOWN FOUR HF PIRATE RADIO STATIONS

     Richard D. Lee, Chief of the FCC Compliance and Information Bureau ("CIB") announced the
location and shut-down of four high frequency ("HF") unauthorized radio broadcasting stations.  The FCC's
Columbia Operations Center coordinated and provided information to FCC agents from the Boston, Chicago,
Houston and Los Angeles offices who then performed on-site visits to the unauthorized stations.  The
unauthorized stations were  located in Tewksbury, Massachusetts; Glendale Heights, Illinois; Katy, Texas;
and Sierra Madre, California.  The subjects, whose names are being withheld pending further official action,
were all operating on the frequency of 6955 kHz in the HF (shortwave) band.

     Broadcast stations that transmit on a frequency in the HF band, except for certain low powered
devices operating in accordance with Part 15 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations,  may  be operated
only upon the FCC's issuance of a station license covering such apparatus.  In general, unlicensed radio
transmissions create a danger of interference to important authorized radio communications services.  The
equipment used in illegal operations is usually of unknown technical quality and its operation can cause
interference to the reception of authorized services.  In extreme cases, illegal HF broadcast stations have the
potential to interfere with vital aircraft, ship, and government communications, as well as aeronautical radio
navigation channels, in a manner that may endanger the safety of life.

     Under the Communications Act, violators may be subject to penalties up to $11,000 and the
equipment used is subject to seizure and forfeiture by court order.  Unlicensed operators also could be
subject to criminal fines of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, for a first time
offense.

                              -FCC-

News Media Contact: David Fiske, (202) 418-0513.
Compliance and Information Bureau Contact: Riley Hollingsworth, (717) 338-2502; TTY No. (888) 835-
5322