[RFI] FCC Compliance and Enforcement

[Tony]

All:

There seems to be a fine line between malicious interference caused by 
an individual and the continuous operation of a device known to cause 
interference by an electronics manufacturer. In both cases, the 
responsible party is aware that their actions are causing radio 
interference yet they choose to continue those actions.

Having said that, one wonders how the FCC enforces the rules for 
individuals v.s manufactures in such cases and whether manufactures are 
given more lenient punishment i.e., more time to comply for some 
legitimate reason.

In a recent case involving malicious interference by an individual, a 
ham in California received a $25,000 fine after he failed to comply to 
multiple warnings by the FCC to stop his malicious interference on the 
ham bands.

In contrast, the FCC has notified solar panel manufacturer Solar Edge 
about their solar panel systems causing interference to a ham radio 
operator who belongs to this reflector. They have not complied, they 
were not given a fine and they continue to install those components 
nation-wide knowing that they cause interference.

The cause and effect in both cases are similar in that the responsible 
parties who have control over their actions are told to comply yet they 
fail to do so. Maybe someone can shed some light on this with fact-based 
information?

Tony -K2MO