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June 7, 2007
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Amazon.com Inc.
1200 12^th Avenue South
Suite 1200
Seattle, Washington 98144
Attn: L. Michelle Wilson, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Re: File No. EB-07-SE-185
Dear Ms. Wilson:
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
Amazon.com Inc. 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 June 5 and 6, 2007, an investigator from the Commission's Enforcement
Bureau visited Amazon.com Inc.'s internet site and observed that
Amazon.com Inc. 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 S2.909 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: [1]www.dtv.gov."
Accordingly, it appears that Amazon.com Inc. has violated Section
15.117(k)(1) of the Rules by failing to place conspicuously and in close
proximity to the following equipment, in clear and conspicuous print, the
Consumer Alert label required under Section 15.117(k):
JVC 27-inch Stereo TV AV27D305
JVC 52-inch Widescreen TV HD52Z585
15-inch Flat Panel
Magnavox 15MF605T
LCD TV
Philips 23-inch Widescreen Flat Panel LCD TV 23PF8946A
Sony 30-inch HD-Ready Widescreen CRT TV KV30HS420
20-inch Flat Panel
Syntax Olevia LT20S
LCD TV
Syntax Olevia 32-inch HD-Ready Flat Panel LCD TV LT32HVE
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, Amazon.com Inc. violates the
Communications Act or the Commission's rules in any manner described
herein, 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
Amazon.com Inc. is taking to ensure that it does not violate Section
15.117(k) of the Commission's rules in the future.
Amazon.com Inc. may request an interview at the closest FCC Field Office,
which is located in Seattle, Washington. Please contact Karen Mercer at
(202) 418-1160 if you wish to schedule an interview, which must take place
within 10 days of this Citation. Amazon.com Inc. may also submit a written
statement within 10 days of the date of this Citation to:
Kathryn S. Berthot
Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division
Enforcement Bureau
Re: EB-07-SE-185
Federal Communications Commission
445 12^th Street, S.W., Rm. 3-C366
Washington, D.C. 20554
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,
Kathryn S. Berthot
Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division
Enforcement Bureau
See 47 C.F.R. S 1.80(b)(3).
47 U.S.C. S 503(b)(5).
Federal Communications Commission DA 07-2385
3
Federal Communications Commission DA 07-2385
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554
References
Visible links
1. http://www.dtv.gov/