The FCC notified three real estate holders their unlicensed radio activities are illegal and they could each face stiff fines.
The New York office of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau is investigating a complaint about an unlicensed FM station operating on 90.9 MHz from a property on Ivy Street in Newark. The bureau warned Monel Meriland of Burlington, NJ that pirate radio activities are illegal and he could be fined up to $2 million if the Commission finds that he has continued to allow illegal radio transmissions from a property he owns or manages. He has 10 days to respond.
The same office of the bureau is also investigating a complaint of an unlicensed FM station operating on 105.5 MHz from a property owned by R&T Realty on 41st Avenue in Queens. The Realty Managing Agent, Roxana Shek, of Freehold, NJ, was told she could face a fine of up to $2 million if she continues to allow illegal radio transmissions from the Queens property. She too, has 10 days to respond to the Notice of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting.
A Notice of Unlicensed Operation was sent to a third address, to Michael Larocca of Far Rockaway, NY. In response to a complaint, agents from the New York office of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau confirmed they used direction-finding techniques to trace a signal on 464.675 MHz to Larocca’s Car Service at 21st Beach St. The Commission records show the land mobile radio station license KQY480 issued to that company expired in April 2021 and no renewal application is pending.
The FCC told him to stop using this station immediately and that he may be subject to “substantial monetary fines” and possible imprisonment. Larocca too, has 10 days to respond.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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