Ham's Ticket Set Aside as FCC Investigates Allegations of False Distress Calls

NEWINGTON, CT, [Updated June 25] -- The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has set aside the nearly month-old Technician-class license of a California man while it looks into allegations that the now-former licensee may have made false marine distress calls. In a June 3 letter, FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth notified Michael V. Swift of San Ramon of the WTB's action--taken on the bureau's own motion. The FCC granted Swift the call sign KG6QOB on May 1. The FCC set aside his ticket May 29.

In his letter, Hollingsworth said the setaside, made under §1.113 of the Commission's rules, was "based upon evidence that you made numerous false distress calls on Channels 16 and 22A Marine frequencies." Hollingsworth warned Swift that in view of the WTB's action, he had no authority to operate Amateur Radio transmitting equipment. "Operation of radio transmitting equipment would be a violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and would subject you to criminal and monetary penalties," Hollingsworth wrote.

Hollingsworth told ARRL that agents in the FCC's San Francisco office--in cooperation with the US Coast Guard--reportedly tracked transmissions on the marine channels to Swift's residence, where they interviewed him.

Hollingsworth explained that the WTB has a 30-day window to set aside a license grant on its own motion. While the Universal Licensing System indicates Swift's ticket has been canceled, Hollingsworth said that Swift's application actually has reverted to pending status while the investigation continues.

The FCC also sent a Warning Notice May 30 to Ronald E. Shapiro, N2CQT, of Kerhonkson, New York, citing information alleging that the licensee "deliberately interfered with and harassed operators on 3.906 MHz" on May 24.

"It appears that you were operating under some type of impairment," Hollingsworth wrote, "and during the transmissions played music, made transmissions to no one in particular and deliberately transmitted on top of ongoing communications." The FCC alleges the transmissions, which began at about 1 AM, continued for almost an hour.

Hollingsworth has requested that Shapiro respond to the allegations within 20 days, explaining the circumstances of the operation detailed in the Warning Notice.

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