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==>FCC PROPOSES ADDITIONAL FINE FOR FORMER CALIFORNIA AMATEUR LICENSEE
Fast on the heels of a $10,000 Forfeiture Order (FO), the FCC has now
proposed to fine Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell, California, an
additional $21,000 for interfering with Amateur Radio communications.
Gerritsen has been the target of copious complaints of insistent
interference to numerous ham radio repeaters. The FCC affirmed the $10,000
forfeiture in October. The latest proposed fine stems from further
specific alleged instances of interference earlier this year.
"Gerritsen's threats against other operators and his abusive use of
amateur frequencies are the antithesis of good amateur practice and
engineering," the FCC said in its December 2 Notice of Apparent Liability
(NAL). The FCC concluded that Gerritsen willfully and repeatedly violated
§333 of the Communications Act of 1934 by maliciously interfering with the
communications of authorized Amateur Service users.
In 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) swiftly
rescinded its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen after learning of
his earlier state conviction for interfering with police communications.
His application remains on hold for now. As a result of the conviction,
which he's appealed, Gerritsen ultimately spent some time in jail. But he
continues to maintain erroneously that the FCC can't take away his
operating privileges without a hearing, and that he still has a ham
ticket.
The NAL cites three specific instances of interference attributed to
Gerritsen and mentioned several others in proposing the huge fine, which
includes an "upward adjustment" from the base forfeiture amount of $7000.
"Despite warnings and a prior NAL and Forfeiture Order, Gerritsen's
unauthorized willful and malicious interfering radio operations have been
ongoing for several months," said the NAL, signed by FCC Los Angeles
Office District Director Catherine Deaton.
In one instance in September, the FCC said, a complaint from an ARRL
Official Observer alleged that Gerritsen "deliberately and maliciously
interfered with the Young Hams Net" on a 2-meter repeater. On other
occasions, an individual identifying himself as Jack Gerritsen and/or
using the KG6IRO call sign, has monopolized various LA-area repeaters for
long periods, the FCC said, preventing other users from accessing the
machines.
Several times, FCC agents have tracked interfering transmissions to
Gerritsen's residence. Commission representatives have advised him that he
does not have authority to transmit on amateur frequencies and warned him
to keep off the ham bands.
Gerritsen has not been heard on LA-area repeaters for more than three
weeks now, and there's evidence he's staying south of the US border--at
least for the time being. The FCC gave Gerritsen 30 days to pay or appeal
the proposed fine.
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==>IN BRIEF:
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* Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade: The Tournament of
Roses Radio Amateurs (TORRA) <
http://torra.us/> will not be providing any
support for the New Year's Day 2005 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
The traditional event precedes the Rose Bowl college football game.
Although TORRA and the Tournament of Roses were unable to agree on 2005
Amateur Radio communication support arrangements, TORRA initially intended
at least to provide some Amateur Television coverage. Now, the group now
says the Tournament of Roses has decided not to use ATV either. A November
17 statement from the TORRA Steering Committee to TORRA members outlined
the chain of events that led to the eventual disconnect, beginning with
the Tournament's reallocation of building space after the 2004 event and
the consequent removal of TORRA's equipment from the net control position
and ATV storage facilities. While TORRA and Tournament personnel did sit
down to explore the role of Amateur Radio and changes necessary for 2005,
TORRA eventually concluded that "there was still too much to do and not
enough time to do it" for a successful operation. TORRA announced November
22 that ATV coverage was out as well. TORRA indicated it will meet with
Tournament officials in January "to restructure our role and the
communication services we provide." Amateur Radio has had a communication
support role in the Tournament of Roses parade since the 1970s. "We have a
longstanding relationship with the Tournament of Roses, and both
organizations wish to maintain that relationship," the November 17 TORRA
letter said.