FCC Warns Property Owner Over Illegal Pirate Radio Station

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, May 1, 2025

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The FCC has issued a formal warning to Devaney Realty Holdings, the owner of a Worcester property where agents say an unlicensed FM radio station has been operating illegally. According to a "Notice of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting" sent by the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, radio signals were detected on 103.9 MHz emanating from 60 Fremont Street on two separate occasions, July 29 and September 11, 2024.

The agency's direction-finding equipment confirmed the signal originated from that address, which is owned by Devaney Realty Holdings. The FCC has no record of a license for a broadcast station at that location or on that frequency.

"Radio broadcast stations operating on certain frequencies, including 103.9 MHz, must be licensed by the FCC," the letter states. "Although the FCC's rules create exceptions for certain extremely low-powered devices, we have determined that those exceptions do not apply."

The FCC warned that under the Communications Act, property owners who "willfully and knowingly" permit pirate radio operations can face fines of up to $2,453,218. The Commission is giving the property owner ten business days to respond and demonstrate that illegal broadcasting has ceased.

"If you do not respond to this Notice, the FCC may nonetheless determine that, as a legal matter, you have sufficient knowledge of the above-referenced pirate radio activity to support enforcement action against you," the letter adds.

The letter was signed by David C. Dombrowski, Regional Director of Region One for the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. It urges the property owner to identify any individuals involved and warns that continued unauthorized use of the property for broadcasting could result in further enforcement.

For now, Devaney Realty Holdings faces possible legal and financial repercussions unless it takes immediate action to address the situation.