Report No. CI 98-30  COMPLIANCE AND INFORMATION ACTION    December 16, 1998

       FCC SHUTS DOWN 19 UNLICENSED RADIO STATIONS IN MIAMI AREA

     The FCC, in conjunction with the US Marshals Service, announced the closure of 19  unlicensed
broadcast stations in the Miami, Florida, area.  These closures included seizing equipment, via court
order, that had been used to broadcast illegally in violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of
1934. Other agencies assisting in this action included the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of
Florida, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and local law
enforcement officers.

     The radio stations were transmitting without licenses on various frequencies in the FM broadcast
band in and around the Miami, Florida,  area.  Although transmissions at extremely low power levels are
allowed with an FCC license, the 19 stations were operating at power levels from 1,500 to over 45,000
times the legal limit.  

     This action followed U.S. District Court orders filed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern
District of Florida to seize property from the nineteen unlicensed radio operators.  These court actions
allow the FCC to seize radio station transmission equipment used by these unlicensed radio station. The
FCC had received information from various sources about the unlicensed broadcasting.

     Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, ("Act") prohibits any person from
making radio transmissions unless licensed by the FCC.  Section 510 of the Act authorizes forfeitures to
the federal government of radio equipment used in transmissions by unlicensed stations, where the
equipment is used with willful and knowing intent to violate the federal law prohibiting transmissions
without a license.

     A previous enforcement effort conducted in South Florida in July of this year resulted in the
seizure of equipment from 15 unlicensed stations.  A follow-up investigation by the FCC resulted in the
shut down of these 19 additional unlicensed stations.

     Unlicensed radio transmissions can interfere with transmissions of licensed stations and have the
potential of seriously interfering with aviation communications and emergency and public safety
transmissions.

                                - FCC -

     News Media contact:  David Fiske at (202) 418-0500
     Compliance and Information Bureau contact:  Pamera Hairston at (202) 418-1160