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Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Silo Inns
Portland, Oregon
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File No.: EB-FIELDWR-14-00013672
Citation No. C201432920002
CITATION AND ORDER
Exceeding Signal Leakage Limits in Aeronautical Bands
Adopted: April 2, 2014 Released: April 3, 2014
By the Resident Agent, Portland Office, Western Region, Enforcement Bureau:
INTRODUCTION
This is an official CITATION AND ORDER (Citation) issued pursuant to Section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act or Act), to Silo Inns in Portland, Oregon. Specifically, Silo Inns is being cited for failing to notify the Commission before operating a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) system with a carrier in the aeronautical radio frequency band, in violation of Section 76.1804 of the Commission's rules (Rules), for exceeding cable signal leakage limits in aeronautical frequency bands in violation of Section 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules.
Notice of Duty to Comply With Laws: Silo Inns should take immediate steps to come into compliance and reduce excessive signal leakage, and to avoid any recurrence of the misconduct described herein. Silo Inns also must immediately file FCC Form 321. Silo Inns is hereby on notice that if it subsequently engages in any conduct of the type described in this Citation, including any violation of Sections 76.1804 and 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules, it may be subject to civil penalties, including but not limited to substantial monetary fines (forfeitures) and seizure of equipment. Such forfeitures may be based on both the conduct that led to this Citation and the conduct following it.
Your Response Required: Pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 403 of the Communications Act, we also direct Silo Inns to respond in writing, within thirty (30) calendar days after the release date of this Citation, and signed under penalty of perjury, with descriptions of the specific action(s) taken or planned to correct the violations and preclude recurrence of the violations, and also a timeline for completion of any pending corrective action(s).
background
On February 13, 2014, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Portland Office conducted an investigation and found Silo Inns, located at 11707 Airport Way, Portland, Oregon, operated a non-cable MVPD system at its facility. The agents also found that the Silo Inns MVPD system was using aeronautical frequencies, but had not filed an FCC Form 321 to notify the Commission of its operation in the aeronautical band. The agents further found that the Silo Inns MVPD system was emitting a radio carrier signal above allowed limits on frequency bands utilized by aeronautical services. On February 13, 2014, the agents from the Portland Office conducted field strength measurements on the aeronautical band frequency 121.2625 MHz at a distance greater than three meters from the Silo Inns MVPD equipment and measured an emission of 113 microvolts per meter.
applicable law and violations
The Rules provide that cable and non-cable MVPDs that transmit carriers with certain characteristics within frequency bands of 108-137 MHz and 225-400 MHz must comply with specific technical requirements delineated in the Rules in order to avoid interference to other licensed operations, including aeronautical systems operating in these frequency ranges. In particular, Section 76.610 of the Rules provides that all MVPDs (cable and non-cable) transmitting carriers or other signal components carried at an average power level equal to or greater than 10[-4] watts across a 25 kHz bandwidth in any 160 microsecond period, at any point in the cable distribution system in the frequency bands 108-137 and 225-400 MHz for any purpose, must comply with, among other requirements, Sections 76.605(a)(12) and 76.1804 of the Rules. Silo Inns was required to comply with these Rules because the MVPD system at its property in Portland, Oregon, transmits a carrier at an average power level equal to or greater than 10[-4] watts across a 25 kHz bandwidth in any 160 microsecond period, and carries signals in the 108-137 MHz and 225-400 MHz aeronautical bands.
Section 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules provides that signal leakage from a cable television system: (1) between 54 MHz and 216 MHz shall be limited to 20 micro-volts per meter, measured at three meters and (2) less than or equal to 54 MHz and more than 216 MHz shall be limited to 15 micro-volts per meter, measured at 30 meters. At the time of the investigation, agents from the Portland Office conducted field strength measurements on the frequency 121.2625 MHz at a distance greater than three meters from the MVPD system of Silo Inns, and measured an emission of 113 micro-volts per meter which exceeds the field strength allowed on those frequencies by the Rules.
Section 76.1804 of the Rules requires that an "MVPD shall notify the Commission before transmitting any carrier or other signal component with an average power level across a 25 kHz bandwidth in any 160 microsecond time period equal to or greater than 10[-4] watts at any point in the cable distribution system on any frequency or frequencies in the aeronautical radio frequency bands (108-137 and 225-400 MHz). The notification shall be made on FCC Form 321." At the time of the investigation, Silo Inns was using frequencies in the aeronautical band, but had not notified the Commission as required. Based on the foregoing evidence, we find that Silo Inns violated Sections 76.1804 and 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules by failing to notify the Commission of its operations, and exceeding cable signal leakage limits.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 403 of the Communications Act, Silo Inns is directed to describe the steps it has taken or plans to take to come into compliance with the Commission's cable signal leakage and notification rules, as well as a timeline for any pending corrective actions, within thirty (30) calendar days after the release date of this Citation. A failure to respond in writing, or an inadequate, incomplete, or misleading response, may subject Silo Inns to additional sanctions.
* V. RESPONDING TO THIS CITATION
In addition to the required written information described in paragraphs 3 and 8, above, Silo Inns may, if it so chooses, respond to this Citation -- challenging the factual and legal findings herein -- within thirty (30) calendar days from the release date of this Citation either through (1) a written statement, (2) a teleconference interview, or (3) a personal interview at the Commission Field Office nearest to your place of business.
If you would like to arrange a teleconference or personal interview, please contact agent Binh Nguyen at (360) 696-6707. The nearest Commission Field Office is located in Kirkland, Washington. Such teleconference or interview must take place within thirty calendar (30) days of the date of this Citation. If you would like to submit a written response, including any supporting documentation, you must send the response within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of this Citation to the contact and address provided in paragraph 11, below.
All written communications, including the information requested in paragraphs 3 and 8, above, should be provided to the address below.
Binh Nguyen
Federal Communications Commission
Portland Office
P.O. Box 61469
Vancouver, Washington 98666-1469
* Re: EB-FIELDWR-14-00013672
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need, and include as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least five (5) business days advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov [HYPERLINK: mailto:fcc504@fcc.gov] or call the FCC's Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau:
For sign language interpreters, CART, and other reasonable accommodations:
202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty);
For accessible format materials (braille, large print, electronic files, and audio format): 202-418-0531 (voice), 202-418-7365 (tty).
Please be advised that it is a violation of Section 1.17 of the Commission's rules (47 C.F.R. § 1.17) for any person or a staff member of that person to make any false or misleading written or oral statement of fact. Specifically, no person shall:
* (1) In any written or oral statement of fact, intentionally provide material factual information that is incorrect or intentionally omit material information that is necessary to prevent any material factual statement that is made from being incorrect or misleading; and
* (2) In any written statement of fact, provide material factual information that is incorrect or omit material information that is necessary to prevent any material factual statement that is made from being incorrect or misleading without a reasonable basis for believing that any such material factual statement is correct and not misleading.
Further, 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. § 1001.
If you violate Section 1.17 of the Commission's rules or the criminal statute referenced above, you may be subject to further legal action, including monetary fines pursuant to Section 503 of the Communications Act.
Under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 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.
VI. FUTURE VIOLATIONS
If, after receipt of this Citation, Silo Inns again violates Sections 76.1804 and 76.605(a)(12) of the Rules by engaging in conduct of the type described herein, the Commission may impose monetary forfeitures not to exceed $16,000 for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation, and up to $112,500 for any single act or failure to act. For instance, the Commission could impose separate forfeitures for each day on which its MVPD system exceeds cable signal leakage limits. Further, as discussed above, such forfeitures may be based on both the conduct that led to the Citation and the conduct following it. In addition, violations of the Communications Act or the Rules also can result in seizure of equipment through in rem forfeiture actions, as well as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment.
VII. ORDERING CLAUSES
IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 403 of the Communications Act, Silo Inns must provide the written information requested in paragraphs 3 and 8, above. The response to the request for information must be provided in writing, signed under penalty of perjury by an authorized official at Silo Inns with personal knowledge of the information and representations provided in the written response, and must be received by the FCC within thirty (30) calendar days after the release date of this Citation and Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Citation and Order shall be sent both by First Class U.S. Mail and Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Silo Inns at 11707 Airport Way, Portland, Oregon 97220.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Binh Nguyen
Resident Agent
Portland Office
Western Region
Enforcement Bureau