Here’s the weirdest part: The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau collects these fines. They have a hit list of the “Top 10 Most Wanted Wireless Outlaws.” I’m not kidding. Number one is a guy who used a cable TV leakage device to pirate signals. His fine? Over $1.1 million. He’s basically the Al Capone of radio.
Also: The smallest wireless ticket on record? $0.00. That’s right—the FCC issues “warning letters” for first-time, accidental jamming. So if your neighbor’s garage opener suddenly blocks your Wi-Fi, you get a scary letter, not a bill. Lucky you!
The British version: even funnier
Across the pond, the UK’s Ofcom (their FCC) fines people for “illegal airwave use.” They once fined a man £5,000 for using a radio-controlled toy car that caused interference at an airport. The toy was a remote-controlled Ferrari. He didn’t even get to keep the car. They confiscated it. Now it’s likely sitting in a government warehouse, next to a pile of counterfeit Lucky Charms.
