U.S. Senate Passes the PIRATE Act Boosting Fines to $100K

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, January 8, 2020 | 4:55pm CT

U.S. Congress

The U.S. Senate has passed the PIRATE Act. The act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Gary Peters (D-MI) and unanimously passed the House in February, 2019. Under the Act, any person operating a pirate radio station will be subject to a fine of not more than $100,000 per day of operations and not more than $2 million in total. Additionally, the FCC will be required to assign appropriate enforcement personal to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting.

In a statement, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith said, "NAB applauds Senate passage of the PIRATE Act, and we thank Sens. Daines (R-MT) and Peters (D-MI) and Reps. Tonko (D-NY) and Bilirakis (R-FL) for their leadership on this issue. Broadcasters also appreciate the support of Chairmen Wicker (R-MS) and Pallone (D-NJ) and Ranking Members Cantwell (D-WA) and Walden (R-OR) to ensure Senate and House approval of this important bill.

"This legislation provides stronger resources to help the FCC combat illegal pirate radio operations, which not only interfere with licensed radio stations but also public safety communications and air traffic control systems. We look forward to the President signing the PIRATE Act into law."

The PIRATE Act now goes to the President for his signature.