Hmmmm...wonder what the FCC has to say about a state regulating radio emissions.
Actually, the FCC doesn't mind at all. Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell stated publicly that he welcomed the law in Florida. Prior to the passage of the anti-pirate radio law in Florida, attempts to shut down all the pirate stations were like attempts to empty the ocean with a teaspoon. These illegal stations were especially concentrated in Broward and Dade Counties. The Florida Association of Broadcasters lobbied long and hard in Tallahassee to have these stations shut down, as they felt that the FCC wasn't acting fast enough to do so.
A precedent for state and even local regulation of radio communications was set when the CB bill, sponsored by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI), was passed and signed into law a few years ago. State and local jurisdictions can prosecute CB'ers who are operating on unauthorized frequencies or with excessive power, especially if they cause TVI or RFI. Amateur radio was exempted from this bill, but how many state troopers and local cops know the difference between a ham and a CB'er?
I was very much against the enactment of this law back when it was proposed. But since it has been enacted is there any information regarding how local law enforcement authorities have coped with it's enforcement ?? Have they set up local agencies trained to properly take measurement, track signals, and measure power levels, frequency etc. ?? And what criteria do they use ?? FCC rules ?? Local rules ?? Are they properly trained to discriminate between exempt hams and cb'ers ? Have they been able to prosecute any CB'ers since they were given the power to do so ?? How did the prosecutions go ?? I remember mentioning to a cop friend of mine that under the new law he might be allowed to enforce CB radio rules and go after illegal CB'ers with extra channels and linear amplifiers. He laughed sarcastically and said nothing more. He didn't seem too impressed or enthusiastic about the concept of having enforcement power over CB radio operators.