“The Office has been aware of discussions on social media platforms that suggest that certain radio services regulated by the Commission may be an alternative to social media platforms for groups to communicate and coordinate future activities,” the FCC in its warning Sunday. “People who use radios on amateur or personal radio services in this way may be subject to severe sanctions, including significant fines, confiscation of the offending equipment and, in some cases, criminal prosecution.”
The FCC licenses certain signals for people to broadcast on radio waves. These messages are generally protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. But the FCC reminded licensees and radio operators that it is prohibited to transmit “communications intended to facilitate a criminal act.” Nor is it allowed to encode their messages to hide their meaning from law enforcement.
The laws governing airwaves apply to fans who broadcast with personal ham radios, which can reach great distances. But they also apply to people who use Citizens Band (CB) radios that are commonly used for communication between truckers or even walkie-talkies.
“Without AWS, Parler is finished as he has no way to connect,” the complaint said. “And a delay in granting this TRO even one day could also sound like Parler’s sound when President Trump and others switch to other platforms.”
Amazon said Parler’s lawsuit “has no merit.”