Wednesday, January 6, 2010

SpyCam Story #565 - FCC Crackdown

FCC Cracks Down on Illegal Wireless SpyCams. Nooo, not all spycams, just some wireless ones broadcasting on unapproved frequencies...
Federal Communications Commission DA 09-2623 January 6, 2010 SCS Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Spy Camera Specialists, Inc. Re: File No. EB-08-SE-142 Dear Mr. Lee: This is an official CITATION, issued to SCS Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Spy Camera Specialists, Inc. (“Spy Camera”), pursuant to Section 503(b)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“Act”), for marketing unauthorized radio frequency devices in the United States in violation of Section 302(b) of the Act, and Sections 2.803 and 15.205(a) of the Commission’s Rules (“Rules”). As explained below, future violations of the Commission’s rules in this regard may subject your company to monetary forfeitures.

In March 2008, the Spectrum Enforcement Division of the Enforcement Bureau (“Division”) received a complaint alleging that Spy Camera was marketing unauthorized wireless video transmitters that operate in the 1.08, 1.12, 1.16 and 1.2 GHz bands. We initiated an investigation and on May 13, 2008, we sent a Letter of Inquiry (“LOI”) to Spy Camera.

In your June 9, 2008 response to our LOI, you admit marketing wireless video transmitters beginning in early 2006 on your web site, www.spycameras.com, to end users and resellers. You admit that these wireless video transmitters all operate on 1.2 GHz, which is a restricted frequency band under 15.205(a) of the Rules. You also state that you were surprised to learn that these devices could not be marketed in the United States, and upon receipt of our LOI, immediately returned all the 1.2 GHz transmitters in stock to your supplier and ceased. (more) One down, dozens to go.
Clients... Yes we regularly check these frequencies (and other off-beat frequencies) for wireless spycams when we conduct your inspections. ~Kevin