House Energy & Commerce Committee Passes PIRATE Act

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, July 12, 2018 | 5:23pm CT

U.S. Congress

The PIRATE Act (H.R. 5709) has been passed by the House Energy & Commerce Commerce Committee. 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. Plus, the FCC will be required to assign appropriate enforcement personal to focus specific and sustained attention on the elimination of pirate radio broadcasting within the top five radio markets not less than twice each year.

In a statement, NAB Executive VP/Communications Dennis Wharton said, "NAB thanks the House Energy & Commerce Committee for advancing legislation that strengthens FCC resources in combatting illegal pirate radio operations. Reps. Lance, Tonko, Collins and their cosponsors are to be commended for addressing the unfortunate increase in pirate radio. These stations not only interfere with licensed and legal broadcasts, but on multiple occasions have disrupted airline pilot and air traffic controller transmissions. NAB urges Congress to swiftly pass the PIRATE ACT."