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Author Topic: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts  (Read 687 times)

W9IQ

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FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« on: April 22, 2021, 09:28:56 AM »

It would seem fairly obvious, but here is the text from Enforcement Advisory No. 2021-05 dated 20 April 2021:

REMINDER: AMATEUR AND PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES LICENSEES AND
OPERATORS MAY NOT USE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT OR FACILITATE
CRIMINAL ACTS


The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission issues this
Enforcement Advisory to again remind licensees in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as
licensees and operators in the Personal Radio Services, that the Commission prohibits the use of
radios in those services to commit or facilitate criminal acts. The Bureau recognizes that these
services can be used for a wide range of permitted and socially beneficial purposes, including
emergency communications and speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution. Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit
or facilitate crimes.


As we did in our January 17 advisory earlier this year, the Bureau reminds amateur licensees that
they are prohibited from transmitting “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act” or
“messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.” Likewise, individuals
operating radios in the Personal Radio Services, a category that includes Citizens Band radios,
Family Radio Service walkie-talkies, and General Mobile Radio Service, are prohibited from
using those radios “in connection with any activity which is against Federal, State or local law.”
Individuals using radios in the Amateur or Personal Radio Services in this manner may be
subject to severe penalties, including significant fines, seizure of the offending equipment, and,
in some cases, criminal prosecution.

Media inquiries should be directed to 202-418-0500 or MediaRelations@fcc.gov.

To file a complaint with the FCC, visit https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALLFCC.
To report a crime, contact your local law enforcement office or the FBI.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

SWMAN

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2021, 09:36:37 AM »

All I can say about this is "Dah"  !!
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W7CXC

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2021, 09:46:10 AM »

Not your post Glenn but the FCC thing is just plain stupid and unnecessary !
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W9IQ

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2021, 09:51:04 AM »

There must be something happening in the background that has them concerned. Note that they don't call out the Private Land Mobile Radio System and other license classes. Perhaps we will find out at a later time.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: April 22, 2021, 09:57:27 AM by W9IQ »
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

AC2EU

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2021, 10:38:09 AM »

There must be something happening in the background that has them concerned. Note that they don't call out the Private Land Mobile Radio System and other license classes. Perhaps we will find out at a later time.

- Glenn W9IQ

Maybe the militias are chattering on the bands somewhere?

AI5DH

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2021, 11:00:34 AM »

There must be something happening in the background that has them concerned. Note that they don't call out the Private Land Mobile Radio System and other license classes. Perhaps we will find out at a later time.

- Glenn W9IQ
You have smugglers using VHF/UHF repeaters and HF along the Mexico border conducting human and drug smuggling operations. Peppers, extremist, out of work oilfield workers, and militias are preparing for riots and civil war when the cellular network are turned off just like ham emcomm.

 
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N2EY

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2021, 11:10:34 AM »

Perhaps it's a warning to "preppers" and conspiracy theorists that The Man really is listening.

Also:

IANAL, but, since FCC regulates nongovernment radio, it is my understanding that if someone uses radio in the commission of a crime, they've also committed a Federal crime even if the original crime was purely a state crime that the Feds would otherwise have no jurisdiction over.

Or it could just be FCC getting some free publicity.

I mean....when was the last time:

- someone lost their Amateur Radio license for violating Part 97, or any other Part of FCC regs?

- someone actually paid a fine for violation of Part 97?

- someone actually was arrested, convicted and imprisoned for violation of Part 97?

And...how many years did it take?
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KM1H

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2021, 12:14:19 PM »

The FCC is under new lack of leadership from the top down in DC and has to justify their existence all over again.
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W9IQ

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2021, 12:26:35 PM »

Maybe the militias are chattering on the bands somewhere?

I would postulate that an NSA spectrum analysis found a correlation with activities that are being tracked by other agencies.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

K0RDG

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2021, 01:47:29 PM »

Perhaps it's a warning to "preppers" and conspiracy theorists that The Man really is listening.

Also:

IANAL, but, since FCC regulates nongovernment radio, it is my understanding that if someone uses radio in the commission of a crime, they've also committed a Federal crime even if the original crime was purely a state crime that the Feds would otherwise have no jurisdiction over.

Or it could just be FCC getting some free publicity.

I mean....when was the last time:

- someone lost their Amateur Radio license for violating Part 97, or any other Part of FCC regs?

- someone actually paid a fine for violation of Part 97?

- someone actually was arrested, convicted and imprisoned for violation of Part 97?

And...how many years did it take?
March 12 2020: 
https://www.fcc.gov/document/eb-imposes-18000-fine-against-amateur-radio-licensee
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WB0U

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2021, 02:08:42 PM »

From memory, two of the most famous uses of amateur radio in crime:

1) Employee of Nevada Game Control Board used amateur radio to communicate with an associate on a gaming floor.  The employee knew the details of the pseudorandom number generator used in the Keno game and using a computer in his hotel room he could predict winning numbers.  See Ronald D. Harris on Wikipedia.

2) Long, long before cellular phones: There was a betting parlor in the USA that took bets on a race (in Japan?).  A delayed video of the race was shown in the betting parlor.  Criminals used HF amateur radio to relay the race results so bets could be placed that were sure to win.

73, WB0U Lynn
« Last Edit: April 22, 2021, 02:12:28 PM by WB0U »
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K4FMH

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2021, 02:10:46 PM »

There must be something happening in the background that has them concerned. Note that they don't call out the Private Land Mobile Radio System and other license classes. Perhaps we will find out at a later time.

- Glenn W9IQ

Hi Glenn,

You are correct. When militia groups used two D.C area repeaters to reconnoiter gear into place for Jan. 6th, the repeaters were identified by hams and the repeaters were taken offline. This is a fair warning reminder to all: don't break the law and do it using amateur radio by the FCC.

73,

Frank
K4FMH
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KM1H

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2021, 02:24:15 PM »

Back in the 80's when satellite TV was wide open to anyone the criminals in Boston with vowels in the end of their names were using early HT's to relay race results from a members home dish. Those results were not broadcast on local TV for several minutes so late minute bets were very profitable.

Carl
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W9WQA

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2021, 03:22:07 PM »

when have we heard of any real high ranking criminal go to jail for obvious crimes.
sounds like a lot of people are quick to point fingers at those they disagree with.
i see guys discussing how to make a "to go "box...worried?
preppers buying long term food stuff. suspect??
notice gun sales are through the roof.
you cannot buy ammo anywhere.
lots happening in our once normal country.;
maybe worry about .....
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KM1H

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Re: FCC Reminds Not to Use Radio for Criminal Acts
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2021, 04:38:04 PM »

Bernie Madoff (past tense) for starters as well leadership from just about all the crime families.
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