pirate radio

Jean Marius’ history with the commission dates back to 2004

A longtime unlicensed radio operator in Massachusetts has agreed to a consent decree with the FCC, resulting in a reduced civil penalty.

Jean Marius was issued a forfeiture of approximately $597,000 in April 2024 for operating “Radio Tele Planet Compas,” which was heard on unlicensed FM stations in Brockton, Randolph and the Boston neighborhood of Mattapan. It broadcast on 89.3 FM and more recently 105.3 FM, with Haitian-language religious programming.

After receiving the notice of apparent liability, the commission said Marius sought reconsideration based on his inability to pay.

The Enforcement Bureau reviewed his financial status and, through a Boston field office agent, confirmed that he was no longer operating the unlicensed station(s). As a result, it proceeded with a consent decree, which resolves the outstanding notice.

[Related: “FCC Proposes $850K in Pirate Radio Fines Against 6 Massachusetts Stations”]

Marius must pay a civil penalty of $10,000 to the U.S. Department of Tresaury within 30 days of the decree’s issuance. It requires him not to commit any further act constituting pirate radio broadcasting within 20 years, or else face a penalty of approximately $587,000.

FCC’s interest goes back more than 20 years

The Radio Tele Planet Compas website notes this year is the operation’s 23-year anniversary. Marius’ history with the FCC dates back to 2004, when agents from its Boston field office traced the source of an 89.3 FM unlicensed transmission to his residence in Randolph.

According to the commission’s account, he admitted to agents that he was the owner and operator of the equipment in question. Marius received verbal and written warnings to cease operation of the station but, according to the commission, he failed to do so.

He was first issued a notice of apparent liability for the broadcasts in November 2005.

The commission also filed a notice of unlicensed operation against Marius in 2017, which it said he signed and accepted.

Agents detected transmissions in Brockton and Mattapan traced to Radio Tele Planet Compas in 2023, which resulted in the most recent notice.

The operation now appears to be streaming only, according to its website.

(Read the Enforcement Bureau’s notice on the matter of Jean Marius.)

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