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This bill ― known as the PIRATE Act ― would set steep financial penalties for individuals found to be operators of unlicensed radio stations (aka “pirating”). It’d increase fines for illegal pirate operations to $100,000 per day per violation from $10,000 per violation, and establish a fine of up to $2 million for facilitating pirate radio broadcasting. It would also streamline the FCC’s enforcement process and empower state and local law enforcement in combating illegal pirate operations.

The bill’s full title is the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE) Act.

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Should There be Steeper Penalties for Pirating Radio Broadcasts?