FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says the FCC needs more tools to combat radio pirates. He told lawmakers of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee the agency is working with NAB on the issue, but they need help. "We're playing wack-a-mole. They keep popping up. Landlords look the other way because [to them] helping pirates is risk-free," said Wheeler. The agency needs authority from Congress to go after those landlords, said Wheeler. If Congress could deny them the opportunity to operate in this way it "would be a significant means of thwarting pirate radio," said Wheeler. Commissioner Michael O'Rielly said concert venues and political campaigns, too, need to be educated that pirate radio is illegal. The hearing was the fourth on FCC reform this year
