FCC to Monitor Auction Site for Illegal Items

NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 24, 2000--The FCC says it has reached an agreement with the eBay auction site that's aimed at curtailing the sale of clearly illegal radio equipment.

FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth says eBay has agreed to cooperate in removing advertisements in which the item for sale "is clearly non-certified." Hollingsworth said most of the equipment involved falls into the CB category, including illegal amplifiers.

"I've got a whole folder of people who have been complaining about this and will be delighted to know that the Commission is taking action," said the ARRL Regulatory Information Branch's John Hennessee, N1KB.

Hollingsworth said a review team within the Technical and Public Safety Division of the FCC Enforcement Bureau is screening eBay ads each week. He said the practice could be extended to other auction site if the FCC learns of similar problems.

Hollingsworth credits complaints from the Amateur Radio community with getting the new system in place. "I've been collecting complaints for a year, but the amateur community really generated it," he said. Hollingsworth says he sees about 10 complaints a week about auction site advertisements--sometimes several about the same ad--and has been forwarding all complaints he receives to a "duty team" within Technical and Public Safety. He cautions that complaints should be based on clear-cut FCC rules violations, however, such as attempts to sell illegal linear amplifiers.

"Amateurs can keep sending me items, addressed to fccham@fcc.gov," Hollingsworth said.

Previous: ARES Fire Relief Effort Continues in Minnesota

Next: QRP with WO3B: Work All States QRP in 24 Hours or Less