Tower owner fined $13K for light outage

The FCC fined a Hearne tower owner $13,000 for “willful and repeated violation of Section 303(q) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and Sections 17.48(a), 17.50, 17.51(a), and 17.57 of the commission’s rules.”

FCC documents say tower owner James A. Davis filed to “(1) notify immediately the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of an antenna structure light outage, (2) clean or repaint his antenna structure as often as necessary to maintain good visibility, (3) exhibit red obstruction lighting from sunset until sunrise, and (4) notify the Commission of a change in ownership of an antenna structure.”

In May, the FCC’s Houston field office issued a $13,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) to Davis.

The FCC said Davis has not filed a response to the NAL, and “based on the information before us, we affirm the forfeiture.”

Davis must make payment of the fine within 30 days of the order.