Venice : Illegal FM Station Targeted

The Federal Communications Commission this week sought a federal court order to stop a Venice man from running an unlicensed radio station out of his residence.

Tom Reveille, who has operated a pirate FM radio station he calls Radio Free Venice, insists that the FCC has no right to regulate local radio or keep him off the air. Reveille said Wednesday that the court order is moot since federal authorities already have raided his station and seized all his equipment. The broadcaster said that he has been contacted by authorities but that he has received no formal complaint yet.

Reveille had allowed residents to use his station to express their political views until Nov. 13, when the station was shut down. Authorities also are seeking a $1,000 fine from Reveille.

The FCC said Reveille was illegally broadcasting and operating his station without an FCC license. FCC enforcement officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.