FBI Arrests Georgia Ham for Interfering with Aircraft Communication

ATLANTA, Nov 20, 1998--The FCC, the FAA, and the FBI have announced the arrest of a Georgia ham for allegedly interfering with radio communication between aircraft and air traffic controllers in Northern Georgia. An FBI statement issued this week said that Kevin M. Kelly, N2BYE, an Advanced class licensee, was arrested without incident November 6 at his Cumming, Georgia, home by FBI agents accompanied by FAA and FCC agents. The arrest followed a search of Kelly's residence.

Kelly was charged in a criminal complaint with four counts of breaking federal law prohibiting knowingly interfering with the operation of a "true light" or signal used at an air navigation facility. The FBI said its case stemmed from FAA reports of "sporadic and momentary radio frequency interference" between aircraft and air traffic controller communications. The FBI said an extensive investigation showed the RF interference to be coming from the Hyde Park Subdivision in Cumming where Kelly lived.

The FBI described Kelly, 46, as "a highly experienced electronics engineer" who was said to have been "extremely upset" about air traffic noise above his home. Kelly was scheduled to appear November 9 before a US magistrate in Atlanta.

The FBI attributed the success of its investigation to technical expertise from the FAA and the FCC.

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