FCC Fines Unlicensed Florida FM

Hands Out Fine

Former WHNR-A/CYPRESS GARDENS, FL owner FRANKIE GROVER has been fined $2,500 by the FCC for running an unauthorized station on 87.9 FM in LAKELAND, FL. 

Agents from the FCC's TAMPA office investigating a complaint heard the station with an unauthorized callsign of WGBC-FM and noted GROVER's car with an ad for his show and license tags of "WGBC 1."  The Commission says GROVER told the agents that he had spoken to someone at the FCC who advised him that "it was okay to broadcast as long as no one complained and there was no interference."  

GROVER said that he thought he was operating a permitted Part 15 station and was unaware that the station was exceeding Part 15 power limits. The fine was reduced from $10,000 due to inability to pay.

« see more Net News