A ham radio operator in Idaho must pay a record $34,000 penalty for causing interference with communications during a fire suppression effort.
A ham radio operator in Idaho must pay a record $34,000 penalty for causing interference with communications during a fire suppression effort.
I can’t help but feel that the punishment is overly harsh. Yes he absolutely shouldn’t have done it. But they haven’t said that it actually caused any harm, and he was doing it in good faith (although, again shouldn’t have). They also admit that his financial situation could justify a reduced penalty, so it feels ridiculous that they don’t reduce the penalty to something he can actually afford.