FCC Warns Against Using Radio to 'Facilitate Criminal Acts' Ahead of Biden Inauguration

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Newsweek

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warned against using radio services to "facilitate criminal acts," ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's upcoming inauguration this Wednesday.

The warning, issued from FCC's Enforcement Bureau, followed reports that some people were using radio services as an alternative to social media sites in order to communicate and coordinate activities.

"The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including speech that is protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," the agency said in a Sunday statement. "Amateur and Personal Radio Services, however, may not be used to commit or facilitate crimes."

"The Bureau reminds amateur licensees that they are prohibited from transmitting 'communications intended to facilitate a criminal act' or 'message encoded for the purpose of obstructing their meaning," the agency added.



Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fcc-warns-against-using-radio-to-facilitate-criminal-acts-ahead-of-biden-inauguration/ar-BB1cPOAS?li=BBnbfcQ&ocid=DELLDHP

[EarthFirst]

1. That's an awfully specific statement to make...

I wonder what intel they picked up.

[LiberalArkie]

2. More than likely everything

[SheltieLover]

3. This!👆

[SeattleVet]

7. A lot of the cosplay commandoes were using cheap Baofeng radios...

I would guess that almost none were actually amateur license holders, and were using the radios illegally to begin with.

These radios have become very cheap, and are available all over the place. They have a broad range of frequencies available, in and out of the ham bands, business bands, FRS, GMRS, etc. While they are legal for amateur radio operators within the allocated ham bands, the vast majority of these radios are not 'type accepted' by the FCC for use on any of those other bands.

So, in addition to whatever other charges they eventually get smacked with, they can also be prosecuted by the FCC for these additional federal violations.

[yaesu]

10. Digital radios are becoming more common also as the price drops & much more secure. I think Icom

has one coming out for 2 meters for around $35. I've owned a little dual band Baofeng for years, small & lightweight enough to clip on the back of my hat.

[LeftInTX]

15. This is a thing that they're doing to avoid prying eyes

It's been mentioned here on DU

[5X]

4. There are chat rooms you can talk in with numerous people at a time by text.

APRS is location service with maps and chat attached. Lots of good tools they could use, but they will still be recorded.

[randr]

5. Is this a warning from someone inside of the agency?

I would think listening in would provide needed intel and locations

[Sneederbunk]

6. Rogue hams?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. More like cosplay ham rogues. . . . nt

[LiberalFighter]

8. But But FREE SPEECH! I have my rights.

[certainot]

9. when i saw that i thought it might mean they were finally going to do something about TALK radio!

a bit late

[LeftInTX]

16. I wish...right

[certainot]

17. right?

[yaesu]

11. Ham radio has its share of racist rightwing nutjobs, especially since its made up of predominantly

conservative old white dudes but there are a lot of good guys in the hobby also though tuning around the frequencies lately you wouldn't notice. tRump & fox news brought all the racist scum to the surface & poisoned another well.

[DBoon]

19. If the posts about a convention cancelled due to Covid are any indication

There must have been some truly vile posts on the FCC new item:

https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/hamvention-2021-cancelled.743816/

such as:

I choose not to be afraid, a slave imprisoned in my home under government control. I had the virus back in February along with my wife and kids. Already vaccinated and no fears living the dream. Hide in fear if you want. I am done with it and free.

[groundloop]

21. Yes, I've heard plenty of right wingers on the air, but it seems to have dropped off a bit recently

One guy whom I thought was really over the top was spouting right wing bullshit to another ham in Europe. That's just totally bad form. Thankfully that kind of ridiculousness has dropped off after the election, although I do occasionally still hear whining about the stolen election. There have been times when I get so disgusted listening to that bullshit I just turn the radio off and ask my wife if there are any chores around the house I could help with.

It would be great to have a left leaning ragchew net once a week or so, but I wonder if there are enough of us to make it viable.

[groundloop]

20. Might not want to list your callsign here..... that's the same as giving out your name & address

While I totally stand by anything I say on DU I don't necessarily want to make it easy for anyone (especially right wing nut jobs) to identify my name and address.

[SeattleVet]

14. Here is the full notice from the FCC:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-73A1.pdf

WARNING: 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 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 has become aware of discussions on social media platforms suggesting that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities. The Bureau recognizes that these services can be used for a wide range of permitted purposes, including 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.

Specifically, 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.”1 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.”2 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 [email protected].

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

[mdbl]

18. how about commercial hate radio?

limbaugh, beck, etc