FCC's O'Reilly: Let Radio Licensees Directly Sue Pirate Station Operators

O'Rielly

FCC Commissioner MIKE O'RIELLY proposed in a blog post THURSDAY (3/8) to fight against pirate radio stations by granting radio stations a direct cause of action against the unlicensed operators, in the same manner as the CAN-SPAM Act lets ISPs sue spammers.

Noting that "stopping pirate radio is not at the top of the priority list" for the Commission and saying that pirate stations "are not cute; they are not filling a niche; they are not innovation test beds; and they are not training grounds for future broadcasters. If broadcasting were a garden, pirate radio would be poisonous crabgrass," said O'RIELLY, adding that the stations cause "unacceptable economic harm to legitimate and licensed American broadcasters by stealing listeners" and harmful interference, proposes that private licensees be allowed to track down and sue the pirates.

Adding that the issue should be considered separately from the closing of field offices proposed by the agency and that enforcement of spectrum rights should not be transferred to the court system, O'RIELLY suggests that the right to sue be supplemental to the current enforcement procedures.

Read the post here.

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