Company Fined for Selling Noncompliant Wireless Mics

The FCC handed down a $685,338 fine against Sound Around for allegedly marketing 32 models of wireless mics that failed to comply with the agency’s equipment marketing rules. “That the company marketed noncompliant wireless devices -- in some cases the same exact models -- for more than a decade and repeatedly ignored warnings and failed to respond or fully respond to investigative inquiries led to a significantly higher fine,” the agency said Monday. The FCC imposed a base fine of $7,000 per model, said the forfeiture order. “The Commission upwardly adjusted the base forfeiture for the marketing violations because Sound Around apparently had marketed noncompliant devices since at least 2009,” the commission said: “This long history of repeated and continuous marketing of non-compliant wireless microphones warranted a significant upward adjustment.” Two models were “an egregious threat to public safety," the agency said. The New York City-based company didn’t comment.