A Seattle, WA man has been allowed to renew his amateur radio operator license after a nearly two year battle with the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The licensee, David Titus, experienced a troubled childhood that included criminal convictions for sexual abuse of other children, but had subsequently held an amateur radio operators license for 20 years without incident.  However, the Enforcement Bureau held up his application for renewal on the grounds that his status as a Level 2 sex offender was contrary to the personal character required of license holders.

The Commission is authorized to consider a licensee’s character when evaluating whether to award an amateur radio operator’s license or approve one for renewal.  However, in a lengthy and detailed ruling issued on March 9^th, FCC Administrative Law Judge Richard Sippel found that Titus had provided sufficient evidence of his rehabilitation in connection with his past criminal offenses, and that the Enforcement Bureau’s efforts to revoke his license should be stayed.

"The evidence supports the conclusion that Mr. Titus is now…rehabilitated,” noted Sippel in his ruling.  “He now is a 35-year-old adult whose last conviction was adjudicated while he was only 18 years old. The fact that he has lived in the community for 15 years without being charged with a crime is substantial and reliable evidence of his rehabilitation."

Further, Sippel wrote, "an overall record of compliance with Commission rules and policies is relevant in assessing character. Mr. Titus has held an Amateur Radio license for 20 years, and there is no credible or reliable evidence even suggesting that he ever has used or ever would dare to use ham radio communication as a means to contact minors for illicit purposes."

Read the complete text of Judge Sippel’s decision on David Titus's amateur radio license.