Source: http://www.fcc.gov/print/node/61723
Timestamp: 2014-12-22 15:54:17
Document Index: 602606176

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', '§ 301', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', 'art 15', '§ 15', '§ 15']

DA 14-139
File No: EB-10-DV-0413
NAL/Acct. No.: 201132800003
FRN: 0015337108
In this Forfeiture Order (Order), we issue a monetary forfeiture in the amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) to Rapidwave, LLC (Rapidwave), an operator of an Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) transmission systems in Saratoga Springs, Utah, for willful and repeated violation of Sections 301 and 302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, (Act)1and Sections 15.1(b) and 15.1(c) of the Commission’s rules (“Rules”).2 The violations involved Rapidwave’s operation of an intentional radiator not in accordance with Part 15 of the Rules3 and the device’s Equipment Authorization.4
On July 28, 2011, the Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order (NAL) 5 to Rapidwave for its operation of an Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) device on a frequency for which the device was not authorized and without a license. As discussed in detail in the NAL in this case,6 on October 27, 2010 and October 28, 2010, while searching for the source of interference to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) serving the Salt Lake City International airport, agents from the Bureau’s Denver Office (Denver Office) used direction-finding techniques to determine that radio emissions on frequency 5600 MHz emanated from Rapidwave’s U-NII transmitter, a Ubiquiti Networks XtremeRange5 transceiver,7
1 47 U.S.C. §§ 301, 302a(b).2 47 C.F.R. § 15.1(b), (c).3 47 C.F.R. §§ 15.1 et seq.4 47 C.F.R. §§ 15.1, 15.407. 5 Rapidwave, LLC, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order, 26 FCC Rcd 10678 (Enf. Bur. 2011) (NAL). A comprehensive recitation of the facts and history of this case can be found in the NAL and is incorporated herein by reference.
6 See 26 FCC Rcd at 10678–10680.7 The device has FCC ID SWX-XR5 (Ubiquiti XtremeRange5). Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. was issued a Grant of Equipment Authorization for the Ubiquiti XtremeRange5 by MET Laboratories, Inc., under the authority of the FCC, on February 16, 2007. Federal Communications Commission
located at the Lake Mountain communications site is Sarasota Springs, Utah. The Ubiquiti XtremeRange5 model is certified for use as a Part 15 intentional radiator only in the 5745.0 - 5825.0 MHz band and is not certified as a U-NII intentional radiator.8 The device also was not operating with Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), a functionality which allows U-NII transmitters operating in the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.47-5.725 GHz bands to detect the presence of FAA radar systems and avoid co-channel operations with radar systems.9 Rapidwave submitted a response to the NAL requesting cancellation or reduction of the proposed $25,000 forfeiture,10 because (1) the NAL’s upward adjustment is excessive and unwarranted;11and (2) the NAL failed to give proper weigh to the downward adjustment criteria, including Rapidwave’s inability to pay the forfeiture,12 its low degree of culpability13 and its history of no prior offenses.14
The proposed forfeiture amount in this case was assessed in accordance with Section 503(b) of the Act,15 Section 1.80 of the Rules,16 and the Forfeiture Policy Statement.17 In examining Rapidwave’s response, Section 503(b)(2)(E) of the Act requires that the Commission take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other such matters as justice may require.18 As discussed below, we have considered Rapidwave’s response in light of these statutory factors, and find that a reduction of the forfeiture based on its history of compliance is justified. 8 47 C.F.R. § 15.403(s) (defining U-NII devices as “[i]ntentional radiators operating in the frequency bands 5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.470-5.825 GHz that use wideband digital modulation techniques and provide a wide array of high data rate mobile and fixed communications for individuals, businesses, and institutions.”). Although Rapidwave’s device was not authorized to operate in the U-NII bands, it is subject to the U-NII rules (47 C.F.R. 15.401-15.407) because Rapidwave operated it as U-NII device on a U-NII frequency.
9 See 47 C.F.R. § 15.407(h)(2). FCC Enforcement Advisory, TDWR and U-NII Devices, DA 12-459 (Sept. 27, 2012); Memorandum from Julius Knapp, Chief, FCC Office of Engine