Michigan Ham Granted Short-Term Renewal, Allowed to Upgrade

NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 25, 2001--The FCC has acted on longstanding renewal and upgrade applications from a Michigan ham whose operation had come under Commission scrutiny. The FCC this month renewed the license of Allen J. Stap Sr, N8OKU, of Gobles for a two-year term, provided he follows FCC rules. It also granted his application to upgrade to General.

Stap's upgrade was held in abeyance for more than a year while the FCC evaluated his written and on-the-air responses to earlier sanctions. FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth detailed the sanctions in a letter notifying Stap of the short-term renewal.

According to Hollingsworth's letter, Stap entered a plea of no contest in May 1997 to violation of a Michigan statute that makes it a misdemeanor to "prevent, interfere, obstruct or impede a public safety radio communication." Stap was accused of intentionally interfering with a RACES station engaged in test operations in support of civil defense communications, Hollingsworth said.

Stap served a "delayed" sentence of nine months after agreeing not to operate on 2 meters and to surrender his radio equipment to the police. After nine months, the restrictions against Stap were lifted and the charge dismissed.

Subsequently, Stap was notified by the FCC to answer to interference complaints. "In 1999 we received complaints about your interfering with Kalamazoo, Michigan, repeaters, and you received a warning letter on February 23, 2000," Hollingsworth noted. Hollingsworth had queried Stap about the 1997 criminal case when Stap filed to upgrade to General in May 2000.

Stap's license came up for renewal last May. "Since that time we have received no complaints, and therefore, you are receiving a two-year grant," Hollingsworth said. At the same time, the FCC acted favorably on Stap's application to General class.

Hollingsworth told Stap that he may routinely renew his Amateur Radio license if he follows the rules during his current two-year term. But Hollingsworth warned that valid complaints of rules violations could lead to a license revocation hearing.

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