Vic FM Radio Pirate Fined

CANBERRA – A Victorian man has been convicted, fined and ordered to forfeit radio equipment for unlawfully operating a pirate FM radio station, following an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.ACMA tracked the man – who has not been named – down
in March as it investigated unlicensed transmissions on the 101.3 MHz band in
the Portland area of Victoria.

The man yesterday pleaded guilty in the Portland Magistrate Court to one count
of unlicensed operation and four of unlawful possession of radio-communications
devices.

“This conviction is a good outcome for the community,” said ACMA
chairman Chris Chapman. “The emission of powerful radio signals in the FM
or any other critical radio band without the appropriate licence risks
interference to legitimate radio services and their listeners – and rips off
everyone who has obtained legal access to the radio waves.”