Pirate Radio Broadcaster Agrees To $7,200 Payment

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The US Federal Communications Commission has announced that the government will be collecting a payment from an unlicensed radio operator in Massachusetts, settling an enforcement case from last year. The operator of a pirate radio station in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $7,200 to the US Treasury as part of a consent decree with the FCC.

The FCC said that the radio operator, Robert Bellinger, had been broadcasting on 93.1 FM without a license. The payment, which is part of his consent decree, was substantially reduced from the agency's original proposed forfeiture of $40,000 which it sought in 2024 in a notice of apparent liability. Bellinger responded to the notice at the time and told the FCC he was not able to pay the amount.

An FCC review of his finances resulted in an alternative solution -- a consent decree in which Bellinger admitted to his illegal broadcasts and a commitment to make the voluntary contribution specified.

Opinion: futureGEO is the Most Important Amateur Radio Initiative of this Decade. Why is no one Talking About it?→

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Opinion: futureGEO is the Most Important Amateur Radio Initiative of this Decade. Why is no one Talking About it?

You might not know it, but plans are currently in progress to launch a geostationary amateur radio satellite that would provide multi-mode communications coverage to Europe and most of North America. Led by ESA and AMSAT, the project is currently called futureGEO and would be the pinnacle of achievement for the amateur radio hobby.

futureGEO is likely to be very similar to the QO-100 satellite that covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and a large portion of Asia. The major difference of course would be the inclusion of North America within FutureGEO's footprint, opening up geostationary satellite ops to one of the largest ham radio populations in the world.

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Yasme Grant Supports Hams’ Initiatives at Bangladesh Universities

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The Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh has been given a grant from the Yasme Foundation to support its university-based campaign that has been bringing amateur radio to the next generation.

It's been a busy year for the Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh whose members have been touring 24 university campuses as part of a formal programme to bring the science and the spirit of ham radio to students. The initiative recently received a grant from the Yasme Foundation to support the ongoing educational work. In July, the association spent time with students at the University of Liberal Arts in Bangladesh, working in collaboration with the school's Adventure Club. Other campus visits included the Canadian University of Bangladesh and ZNRF University, where the students were able to experience satellite communication. In October, Stamford University Bangladesh welcomed the amateur club. With the help of the school's Robotics Club and the IEEE [Eye Triple E] Student Branch, the amateurs presented a workshop that showcased fundamentals of RF, satellite communication and disaster response.

The not-for-profit, California-based Yasme Foundation supports initiatives that bring amateur radio to young people, especially in developing nations, by providing grants, awards and scholarships.