[AARA] Ham Interference Offender

[Herman Campbell]

Remember this guy?  He is the one that was causing all the intentional 
interference on
ham radio in Southern Louisiana
Jerry W. Materne KC5CSG

Check out this website:
https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/fcc-fines-louisiana-man-18000/501-578047146

LAKE CHARLES, LA — After conducting an investigation stemming from a 
multitude of complaints, the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, has 
fined Jerry W. Materne of Lake Charles, Louisiana $18,000. The fine was 
handed down on July 25, 2018 and is for apparently causing intentional 
interference and failing to provide station identification while 
broadcasting on amateur radio frequencies.

The FCC had received complaints going back to at least 2017 that Mr. 
Materne was causing interference to a local Ham Radio repeater in Lake 
Charles, Louisiana. He was banned from using this local repeater in 
March of 2017. The FCC issued him a Letter of Inquiry in May of 2017 
making him aware of the complaints and asking him to address them. He 
responded by denying that he was causing the interference. Complaints 
continued to roll into the FCC, including one alleging that he caused 
interference to an emergency communications net on the local repeater 
during the landfall of Tropical Storm Cindy in June of 2017. Local Ham 
Radio operators tracked the interference to Mr. Materne's home.

The FCC, taking action based on the complaint from Tropical Storm Cindy, 
sent Materne an official warning the day following the complaint. He 
responded by saying broadcasting on the same frequency as the repeater 
was permitted and adding that he was “tired of this trash harassing me” 
and “I’m going to tell you like I tell this trash over here. Pound sand 
lady.”

Following yet even more complaints, an agent from the FCC office in New 
Orleans was sent to investigate. The agent tracked the interference to 
Mr. Materne's home and observed him and his station, operating as 
KC5CSG, for 6 to 7 hours. At times Materne would play music on the 
channel and threaten other operators and the local Ham Radio club that 
they would not be able to use the frequency later that night. Mr. 
Materne then drove to the site of the Lake Charles repeater and 
broadcasted from his vehicle for 30 minutes interrupting the frequency 
and preventing use of the repeater.

In addition to the violation of causing intentional interference, the 
violation of failing to transmit his call sign is related to not 
identifying as KC5CSG during his broadcasts.

Given the circumstances around these rules violations the FCC deemed it 
appropriate to fine Mr. Materne a total of $18,000 to be paid in 30 days 
from the release of the fine. His other options are to file to have this 
fine reduced or canceled and or paid through installments over a period 
of time.


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