Four alleged radio pirates in the greater New York City area each face a possible $20,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commission.
- The FCC said Jean Boncoeur broadcast “Radio Gold Stars” on 90.5 MHz out of a residence in Spring Valley, N.Y.
- It said Etzer Toussaint operated “Radio Model” or “Radio Tele Model” on 88.9 MHz, also in Spring Valley.
- It said Henderson Lennox Elcock allegedly operated “Wild FM” on 106.3 MHz in Brooklyn.
- And it said Robert Bekune operated “Powerhouse Radio” on 98.5 MHz in Irvington, N.J.
The FCC issued notices of apparent liability for a $20,000 forfeiture against each. They have 30 days to pay or to seek to have the penalty reduced or dismissed.
Federal law allows pirate fines of up to $122,000 per day and $2.4 million in total, but the FCC’s base forfeiture is $20,000.
In each case, the FCC cited a single day in January of last year when it detected on-air broadcasts, though in least two of these cases the broadcasts appear to have been going on for years. The FCC believes that Bekune has been involved in Powerhouse Radio since at least 2018, and it said Radio Model’s website states that Toussaint established the station in 2006…