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   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                                            )                                
                                                                             
     In the Matter of                       )                                
                                                  File Number: EB-05-TP-330  
     Ben Metzger dba 1 Stop                 )                                
     Communications / 1 Stop CB Shop            NAL/Acct. No.: 200732700004  
                                            )                                
     Titusville, Florida                                     FRN:0015839350  
                                            )                                
                                                                             
                                            )                                



                  NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE

                                                  Released: December 12, 2006

   By the District Director, Tampa Office, South Central Region, Enforcement
   Bureau:

   I. INTRODUCTION

    1. In this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture ("NAL"), we find
       that Ben Metzger dba 1 Stop Communications / 1 Stop CB Shop in
       Titusville, Florida apparently willfully and repeatedly violated
       Section 302(b) of the Commissions Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"), and
       Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Commission's Rules ("Rules") by offering
       for sale non-certified Citizens Band ("CB") transceivers.  We
       conclude, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the Act, that Mr. Metzger is
       apparently liable for a forfeiture in the amount of seven thousand
       dollars ($7,000).

   II. BACKGROUND

    2. On March 21, 2006, the Commission's Tampa Office of the Enforcement
       Bureau ("Tampa Office") issued Mr. Metzger / 1 Stop Communications / 1
       Stop CB Shop a Citation for marketing at his store in Titusville
       non-certified CB transceivers, including Connex models 3300, CX
       3300HP, CX 4400HP and Galaxy models DX44 and DX88HL, in violation of
       Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Rules.

    3. In a response dated March 31, 2006, Mr. Metzger stated that the radio
       models listed in the Citation were Amateur Radio Service ("ARS")
       radios, which do not require type acceptance. On May 11, 2006, the
       Tampa Office responded that the models were intended for use on CB as
       well as ARS frequencies because they have built-in design features
       which facilitate their operation on CB frequencies by the exercise of
       simple, end-user accessible modifications to the devices. Accordingly,
       the letter advised, such devices are considered CB transmitters
       pursuant to Section 95.603(c) of the Rules, irrespective of any
       labeling purporting the devices to be "Amateur Radio Transceivers."

    4. In a response dated May 16, 2006, Mr. Metzger stated he removed the
       Connex and Galaxy radios mentioned in the Citation from his store, the
       1 Stop CB Shop. On June 6, 2006, the Tampa Office received a letter
       from his attorney, which requested that the Citation be withdrawn,
       because the radios were marketed and sold as ARS radios, not CB
       radios. The Citation was not withdrawn.

    5. On June 22, 2006, agents from the Tampa Office revisited the 1 Stop CB
       Shop in Titusville and observed a "40 Channel" Connex CX 3300HP
       amateur transceiver along with other uncertified radios in the display
       case. The Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology ("OET")
       previously tested Connex models very similar to the CX 3300HP and
       determined them to be non-certified CB transceivers because they could
       be easily modified to operate on CB frequencies. The agents inquired
       whether this particular Connex could operate on both CB channels and
       amateur bands. Mr. Metzger stated that there were easy directions on
       the Internet which show how to modify the radio to operate on CB
       frequencies. He also stated that he could easily modify the radio to
       operate on the CB channels for a small "tune-up" charge. The agents
       paid him for the radio and the "tune-up." Mr. Metzger handed them the
       modified Connex CX 3300HP transceiver about 15-20 minutes later and
       then demonstrated how to use the different toggle switches on the
       radio to switch from the amateur band to the different CB channels.
       The agents later determined that the modified Connex radio purchased
       from the 1 Stop CB Shop was capable of operating on frequencies from
       25.615 MHz to 28.305 MHz with an output power that varied from 2.4
       watts to 15 watts.

   III. DISCUSSION

    6. Section 503(b) of the Act provides that any person who willfully or
       repeatedly fails to comply substantially with the terms and conditions
       of any license, or willfully or repeatedly fails to comply with any of
       the provisions of the Act or of any rule, regulation or order issued
       by the Commission thereunder, shall be liable for a forfeiture
       penalty. The term "willful" as used in Section 503(b) has been
       interpreted to mean simply that the acts or omissions are committed
       knowingly. The term "repeated" means the commission or omission of
       such act more than once or for more than one day.

    7. Section 302(b) of the Act provides that "[n]o person shall
       manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, or ship devices or home
       electronic equipment and systems, or use devices, which fail to comply
       with regulations promulgated pursuant to this section." Section
       2.803(a)(1) of the Rules provides that "[e]xcept as provided elsewhere
       in this section, no person shall sell or lease, or offer for sale or
       lease (including advertising for sale or lease), or import, ship or
       distribute for the purpose of selling or leasing or offering for sale
       or lease, any radio frequency device unless in the case of a device
       subject to certification such device has been authorized by the
       Commission . . . ."

    8. CB radio transceivers are subject to the equipment authorization
       procedure known as Certification and must be certified and properly
       labeled prior to being marketed or sold in the United States. Unlike
       CB radio transceivers, radio transmitting equipment that transmits
       solely on ARS frequencies is not subject to equipment authorization
       requirements prior to manufacture or marketing. However, some radio
       transmitters that transmit in a portion of the 10-meter band of the
       ARS (28.000 to 29.700 MHz) are equipped with rotary, toggle, or
       pushbutton switches mounted externally on the unit, which allow
       operation in the CB bands after completion of minor and trivial
       internal modifications to the equipment. To address these radios, the
       Commission adopted changes to the CB type acceptance requirements by
       defining a "CB Transmitter" as "a transmitter that operates or is
       intended to operate at a station authorized in the CB." Section
       95.655(a) of the Rules also states that no transmitter will be
       certificated for use in the CB service if it is equipped with a
       frequency capability not listed in Section 95.625 of the Rules (CB
       transmitter channel frequencies).

    9. On March 21, 2006, Mr. Metzger received a Citation for violation of
       Section 302(b) of the Act and Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Rules, by
       offering for sale various non-certified CB transceivers, including
       Connex model CX 3300HP. On June 22, 2006, an agent purchased a Connex
       CX 3300HP from the 1 Stop CB Shop. Mr. Metzger specifically told the
       agent that this ARS transceiver could be easily modified to operate on
       CB frequencies. He also performed those modifications within 20
       minutes for the agent for a small fee and demonstrated how the radio,
       modified by him, could be operated on CB frequencies. Accordingly, the
       Connex CX 3300HP sold by 1 Stop CB Shop on June 22, 2006 was a
       non-certified CB transceiver, i.e. an ARS transceiver that could be
       easily altered and was in fact modified for use on CB frequencies.
       OET previously tested models very similar to the Connex CX 3300HP and
       determined that they too were ARS transceivers that could be easily
       altered for use on CB frequencies.

   10. Based on the evidence before us, we find that Mr. Metzger apparently
       willfully and repeatedly violated Section 302(b) of the Act and
       Section 2.803(a)(1) of the Rules by offering for sale and selling
       non-certified CB transceivers at the 1 Stop CB Shop, his store in
       Titusville, Florida.

   11. Pursuant to The Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and Amendment
       of Section 1.80 of the Rules to Incorporate the Forfeiture Guidelines,
       ("Forfeiture Policy Statement"), and Section 1.80 of the Rules, the
       base forfeiture amount for the importation or marketing of
       unauthorized equipment is seven thousand dollars ($7,000). 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 violations, 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. Applying the Forfeiture Policy
       Statement, Section 1.80, and the  statutory factors to the instant
       case, we conclude that Mr. Metzger is apparently liable for a $7,000
       forfeiture.

   IV. ORDERING CLAUSES

   12. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the
       Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.111, 0.311,
       0.314 and 1.80 of the Commission's Rules,  Ben Metzger dba 1 Stop
       Communications / 1 Stop CB Shop  is hereby NOTIFIED of this APPARENT
       LIABILITY FOR A FORFEITURE in the amount of seven thousand dollars
       ($7,000) for violation of Section 302(b) of the Act and Section
       2.803(a)(1) of the Rules.

   13. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 1.80 of the
       Commission's Rules within thirty (30) days of the release date of this
       Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, Ben Metzger dba 1 Stop
       Communications / 1 Stop CB Shop, SHALL PAY the full amount of the
       proposed forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking
       reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.

   14. Payment of the forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument,
       payable to the order of the Federal Communications Commission.  The
       payment must include the NAL/Acct. No. and FRN No. referenced above.
       Payment by check or money order may be mailed to Federal
       Communications Commission, P.O. Box 358340, Pittsburgh, PA 15251-8340.
       Payment by overnight mail may be sent to Mellon Bank /LB 358340, 500
       Ross Street, Room 1540670, Pittsburgh, PA 15251. Payment by wire
       transfer may be made to ABA Number 043000261, receiving bank Mellon
       Bank, and account number 911-6106.

   15. The response, if any, must be mailed to Federal Communications
       Commission, Enforcement Bureau, South Central Region, Tampa Office,
       Suite 1215, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607-2356, and must
       include the NAL/Acct. No. referenced in the caption.

   16. 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.

   17. Requests for payment of the full amount of this Notice of Apparent
       Liability for Forfeiture under an installment plan should be sent to:
       Associate Managing Director, Financial Operations, 445 12th Street,
       S.W., Room 1A625, Washington, D.C. 20554.

   18. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Notice of Apparent Liability
       for Forfeiture shall be sent by Certified Mail, Return Receipt
       Requested, and regular mail, to Ben Metzger dba 1 Stop Communications
       / 1 Stop CB Shop, at his address of record and to his counsel, Michael
       C. Olson, 4400 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 230, Newport Beach, CA
       92660.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   Ralph Barlow

   District Director

   Tampa Office

   South Central Region

   Enforcement Bureau

   47 U.S.C. S 302a(b).

   47 C.F.R. S 2.803(a)(1).

   CB radio operation is confined to forty specified channels from 26.965 MHz
   to 27.405 MHz (carrier frequency).

   47 U.S.C. S 503(b).

   47 C.F.R. S 95.603(c).

   Section 312(f)(1) of the Act, 47 U.S.C. S 312(f)(1), which applies to
   violations for which forfeitures are assessed under 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 or any rule or regulation of the Commission
   authorized by this Act...." See Southern California Broadcasting Co., 6
   FCC Rcd 4387 (1991).

   Section 312(f)(2) of the Act, 47 U.S.C. S 312(f)(2), which also applies to
   violations for which forfeitures are assessed under Section 503(b) of the
   Act, provides that "[t]he term 'repeated', when used with reference to the
   commission or omission of any act, means the commission or omission of
   such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous,
   for more than one day."

   47 U.S.C. S 302a(b).

   47 C.F.R. S 2.803(a)(1).

   See 47 C.F.R. SS 2.907, 2.927(a).

   47 C.F.R. S 95.603(c) [FCC 88-256], amended changing "type acceptance" to
   "certification" [FCC 98-58]. See also Letter from Christopher Wright,
   General Counsel, FCC to John Atwood, Chief Intellectual Property Rights,
   US Customs Service, 14 FCC Rcd 7797 (OGC, 1999) ("OGC Letter"); Extended
   Coverage High Frequency Transceivers, Public Notice 62882, 1996 WL 242469,
   available at
   >
   (OET, rel. May 13, 1996); and Love's Travel Stops, Forfeiture Order, DA
   06-1936 (Enf. Bur. September 29, 2006).

   47 C.F.R. S 95.655(a).

   12 FCC Rcd 17087 (1997), recon. denied, 15 FCC Rcd 303 (1999); 47 C.F.R.
   S1.80.

   47 U.S.C. S 503(b)(2)(D).

   47 U.S.C. SS 302a(b), 503(b); 47 C.F.R. SS 0.111, 0.311, 0.314, 1.80,
   2.803(a)(1).

   See 47 C.F.R. S 1.1914.

   (...continued from previous page)

                                                              (continued....)

   Federal Communications Commission

                                       5

   Federal Communications Commission