Klaus Kramer was penalized $9,500 for "willful and repeated violations" of its rules against pirate broadcasting. The commission says Kramer operated an illegal radio station in February 2001, and while Kramer acknowledged the violation, he believed the fine was excessive. The FCC denied his appeal, pointing out that it caught Kramer operating a station illegally on two other occasions - in March 1998 and October 1999 - and on at least one occasion he stated that the violations would not be repeated.