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Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of )
)
BIT/State Radio Communications Engineering ) File No.
EB-FIELDWR-13-00007959
Licensee of Station WPWE861 ) NOV No. V201332800048
Custer, SD )
)
NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Released: May 2, 2013
By the District Director, Denver Office, Western Region, Enforcement
Bureau:
1. This is a Notice of Violation (Notice) issued pursuant to Section 1.89
of the Commission's rules (Rules),^ to BIT/State Radio Communications
Engineering (State Radio), licensee of radio station WPWE861 by
Custer, SD. Pursuant to Section 1.89(a) of the Rules, issuance of
this Notice does not preclude the Enforcement Bureau from further
action if warranted, including issuing a Notice of Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture for the violations noted herein.^
2. The Enforcement Bureau's Denver Office received a complaint from BNSF
Railway Co. (BNSF), call sign WPRF464, of interference to their
licensed operation on 160.575 MHz, in the area of Alliance, NE. On
April 4, 2013, an agent of the Enforcement Bureau's Denver Office used
direction finding techniques to find the source of the interference
and observed the following violations:
a. 47 C.F.R. S 1.903(a): "Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must
be used and operated only in accordance with the rules applicable to
their particular service as set forth in this title and with a valid
authorization granted by the Commission under the provisions of this
part..." State Radio was observed operating atop Bear Mountain, by
Custer, SD, on 160.575 MHz, a frequency for which it was not
authorized. Two employees with the State of South Dakota confirmed to
the agent that State Radio operated on 160.575 from atop Bear
Mountain by Custer, SD. On April 5, 2013, after being informed of the
interference, State Radio ceased operation on 160.575 MHz.
b. 47 C.F.R. S 90.403(e): "Licensees shall take reasonable precautions
to avoid causing harmful interference. This includes monitoring the
transmitting frequency for communications in progress and such other
measures as may be necessary to minimize the potential for causing
interference." By programming an unauthorized frequency into its
radio system, State Radio caused interference to BNSF's authorized
operation on 160.575 MHz.
3. Pursuant to Section 308(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended,^ and Section 1.89 of the Rules, we seek additional
information concerning the violations and any remedial actions taken.
Therefore, State Radio must submit a written statement concerning this
matter within twenty (20) days of release of this Notice. The response
(i) must fully explain each violation, including all relevant
surrounding facts and circumstances, (ii) must contain a statement of
the specific action(s) taken to correct each violation and preclude
recurrence, and (iii) must include a time line for completion of any
pending corrective action(s). The response must be complete in itself
and must not be abbreviated by reference to other communications or
answers to other notices.^
4. In accordance with Section 1.16 of the Rules, we direct State Radio to
support its response to this Notice with an affidavit or declaration
under penalty of perjury, signed and dated by an authorized officer of
State Radio with personal knowledge of the representations provided in
State Radio's response, verifying the truth and accuracy of the
information therein,^ and confirming that all of the information
requested by this Notice which is in the regulatee's possession,
custody, control, or knowledge has been produced. To knowingly and
willfully make any false statement or conceal any material fact in
reply to this Notice is punishable by fine or imprisonment under Title
18 of the U.S. Code.^
5. All replies and documentation sent in response to this Notice should
be marked with the File No. and NOV No. specified above, and mailed to
the following address:
Federal Communications Commission
Denver Office
215 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 303
Lakewood, CO 80226
6. This Notice shall be sent to BIT/State Radio Communications
Engineering at its address of record.
7. The Privacy Act of 1974^ requires that we advise you that the
Commission will use all relevant material information before it,
including any information disclosed in your reply, to determine what,
if any, enforcement action is required to ensure compliance.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Nikki P. Shears
District Director
Denver Office
Western Region
Enforcement Bureau
^ 47 C.F.R. S 1.89.
^ 47 C.F.R. S 1.89(a).
^ 47 U.S.C. S 308(b).
^ 47 C.F.R. S 1.89(c).
^ Section 1.16 of the Rules provides that "[a]ny document to be filed with
the Federal Communications Commission and which is required by any law,
rule or other regulation of the United States to be supported, evidenced,
established or proved by a written sworn declaration, verification,
certificate, statement, oath or affidavit by the person making the same,
may be supported, evidenced, established or proved by the unsworn
declaration, certification, verification, or statement in writing of such
person . . . . Such declaration shall be subscribed by the declarant as
true under penalty of perjury, and dated, in substantially the following
form . . . : `I declare (or certify, verify, or state) under penalty of
perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on (date).
(Signature)'." 47 C.F.R. S 1.16.
^ 18 U.S.C. S 1001 et seq. See also 47 C.F.R. S 1.17.
^ P.L. 93-579, 5 U.S.C. S 552a(e)(3).
Federal Communications Commission
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Federal Communications Commission