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April 15, 2008
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Crown Electronics & Appliances
1915 Church Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11226
Re: File No. EB-08-NY-0135
Citation No.: C200832380032
Dear Retailer:
This is an official CITATION, issued pursuant to Section 503(b)(5) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act"), 47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(5), to
Crown Electronics & Appliances for failure to provide appropriate Consumer
Alert disclosures on analog tuner only television receiving equipment in
violation of Section 15.117(k) of the Commission's Rules ("Rules"), 47
C.F.R. S: 15.117(k). As explained below, future violations of the
Commission's rules in this regard may subject your company to monetary
forfeitures.
On April 9, 2008, an agent from the Enforcement Bureau's New York Office
visited Crown Electronics & Appliances at 1915 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
11226, and observed that Crown Electronics & Appliances did not have the
proper Consumer Alert label displayed on equipment that contained an
analog tuner but not a digital tuner at the point of sale.
Section 15.117(k) of the Commission's Rules states:
(k) The following requirements apply to all responsible parties, as
defined in S:2.909 of this chapter, and any person that displays or
offers for sale or rent television receiving equipment that is not
capable of receiving, decoding and tuning digital signals.
(1) Such parties and persons shall place conspicuously and in close
proximity to such television broadcast receivers a sign containing, in
clear and conspicuous print, the Consumer Alert disclosure text
required by subparagraph (3). The text should be in a size of type
large enough to be clear, conspicuous and readily legible, consistent
with the dimensions of the equipment and the label. The information
may be printed on a transparent material and affixed to the screen, if
the receiver includes a display, in a manner that is removable by the
consumer and does not obscure the picture, or, if the receiver does
not include a display, in a prominent location on the device, such as
on the top or front of the device, when displayed for sale, or the
information in this format may be displayed separately immediately
adjacent to each television broadcast receiver offered for sale and
clearly associated with the analog-only model to which it pertains.
(2) If such parties and persons display or offer for sale or rent such
television broadcast receivers via direct mail, catalog, or electronic
means, they shall prominently display in close proximity to the images
or descriptions of such television broadcast receivers, in clear and
conspicuous print, the Consumer Alert disclosure text required by
subparagraph (3). The text should be in a size large enough to be
clear, conspicuous, and readily legible, consistent with the
dimensions of the advertisement or description.
(3) "CONSUMER ALERT
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will
require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive
over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's
transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to
work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles,
VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call
the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY:
1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website
at: www.dtv.gov."
Accordingly, it appears that Crown Electronics & Appliances has violated
Section 15.117(k) of the Rules by failing to place conspicuously and in
close proximity to the following equipment, in clear and conspicuous
print, the required Consumer Alert label:
Manufacturer Device Model # Number of Units
Magnavox TV/DVD MWC13D6 1
Sylvania TV/VCR SRC2213X 1
We caution you that failure to display an appropriate Consumer Alert label
on any television receiving equipment that is not capable of receiving,
decoding and tuning digital signals would constitute a further violation
of Section 15.117(k) of the Rules.
If, after receipt of this citation, Crown Electronics & Appliances engages
in conduct of the type described herein, in violation of the
Communications Act or the Commission's rules, the Commission may impose
monetary forfeitures not to exceed $11,000 for each such violation or each
day of a continuing violation up to $97,500 for a single continuing
violation.
If you choose to do so, you may respond to this citation within 10 days
from the date of this letter either through (1) a personal interview at
the Commission's Field Office nearest to your place of business, or (2) a
written statement. Your response should specify the actions that Crown
Electronics & Appliances is taking to ensure that it does not violate
Section 15.117(k) of the Commission's rules in the future.
If you choose to request a personal interview, the closest FCC Office is
Federal Communications Commission, New York Office, 201 Varick Street,
Suite 1151, New York, NY 10014. You should contact this office by
telephone, (XXX) XXXX-XXXX to schedule this interview, which must take
place within 10 days of this Citation. Alternatively, as noted above,
Crown Electronics & Appliances may submit a written statement to the above
address within 10 days of the date of this Citation. Any written
statements should specify what actions have been taken to correct the
violation outlined above. Please reference file number EB-08- NY-0135
when corresponding with the Commission.
Under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. S: 552a(e)(3), we are informing
you that the Commission's staff will use all relevant material information
before it, including information that you disclose in your interview or
written statement, to determine what, if any, enforcement action is
required to ensure your compliance with the Communications Act and the
Commission's rules.
The knowing and willful making of any false statement, or the concealment
of any material fact, in reply to this citation is punishable by fine or
imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. S: 1001.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.
Sincerely,
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Daniel W. Noel
District Director, New York Office]
Northeast Region
Enforcement Bureau
Analog tuner only television receiving equipment includes televisions,
television receivers, and other television receiving equipment, such as
video-cassette recorders and digital video recorders, that are covered by
the Commission's digital television reception capability implementation
schedule. See 47 C.F.R. S: 15.117(i)(1)(iv).
See 47 C.F.R. S: 1.80(b)(3).
47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(5).
3
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554