Small Businessman Takes On Department of Justice
Donation protected
My name is Arnold Ferolito, and I am fundraising to pay for the crippling legal fees that are piling up as a result of my legal battle against the Department of Justice (DOJ).
It’s a legal battle that I must win to keep my business and maintain my livelihood.
My story
I am a small businessman born and raised in Bronx, New York. I have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. For over 50 years, I have worked in the broadcast industry and have spent a great deal of time and energy growing and maintaining my business. I am the sole owner and employee of RM Broadcasting LLC which purchases radio airtime from FCC licensees and resells the airtime to broadcasters.
The legal battle
The DOJ is forcing my company to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) because I brokered air time for a radio program called Sputnik, which is operated by Russian state-owned media company Rossiya Sevodnya.
I'm an American. My love for this country is at the core of my identity. I am not a foreign agent, I have never been a foreign agent, and I will never be a foreign agent.
I purchase radio airtime from FCC licensees and resell that airtime to broadcasters pursuant to commercial service agreements. My business is a conduit of communication; my responsibility is like that of a satellite company that provides the signal for an Internet provider.
On principle, I believe that the government’s expansion of the FARA statute to radio broadcasters is an egregious overstep that is unconstitutional.
You might wonder, why wouldn't I just register?
1) You relinquish your 4th Amendment rights. The government has the ability to inspect your books and records at any time and review anything they deem to be relevant.
2) All business contracts have to be made public, which means any competing company can see the details of your business. Making this confidential information a matter of public record, would seriously impede my company’s ability to do business and remain competitive in the broadcast industry.
3) Many people are hesitant to do business with a “foreign agent.” This incorrect classification will also have a negative effect on my business.
Do we have freedom of the press?
By forcing American businesses like mine that have absolutely no influence on the broadcasting content of my clients, and no interest beyond leasing airtime, to register as foreign agents the DOJ is in effect censoring broadcasting from other countries.
In this case, it's Russia, but they can do the same for any other broadcaster foreign or domestic. If we allow this slippery slope to continue, we may see a day where the government will censor speech it doesn't like on CNN, MSNBC or Fox News. Where will it end?
The impact of your donation
No business or individual wants to give up their rights unjustly. I have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Department of Justice to protect my rights and the rights of those similarly situated to me. Your donation will go to cover legal fees to fight in court. I have used my retirement savings to cover over $100,000 in legal fees already and hope that the result of this battle will allow me to maintain my livelihood. As a small businessman trying to support my family, it is difficult to take on these additional expenses.
Press about the case
The Washington Post
https://www.gofundme.com/small-businessman-takes-on-doj
Sputnik radio broadcast:
https://sputniknews.com/popup_radio/0/s
It’s a legal battle that I must win to keep my business and maintain my livelihood.
My story
I am a small businessman born and raised in Bronx, New York. I have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. For over 50 years, I have worked in the broadcast industry and have spent a great deal of time and energy growing and maintaining my business. I am the sole owner and employee of RM Broadcasting LLC which purchases radio airtime from FCC licensees and resells the airtime to broadcasters.
The legal battle
The DOJ is forcing my company to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) because I brokered air time for a radio program called Sputnik, which is operated by Russian state-owned media company Rossiya Sevodnya.
I'm an American. My love for this country is at the core of my identity. I am not a foreign agent, I have never been a foreign agent, and I will never be a foreign agent.
I purchase radio airtime from FCC licensees and resell that airtime to broadcasters pursuant to commercial service agreements. My business is a conduit of communication; my responsibility is like that of a satellite company that provides the signal for an Internet provider.
On principle, I believe that the government’s expansion of the FARA statute to radio broadcasters is an egregious overstep that is unconstitutional.
You might wonder, why wouldn't I just register?
1) You relinquish your 4th Amendment rights. The government has the ability to inspect your books and records at any time and review anything they deem to be relevant.
2) All business contracts have to be made public, which means any competing company can see the details of your business. Making this confidential information a matter of public record, would seriously impede my company’s ability to do business and remain competitive in the broadcast industry.
3) Many people are hesitant to do business with a “foreign agent.” This incorrect classification will also have a negative effect on my business.
Do we have freedom of the press?
By forcing American businesses like mine that have absolutely no influence on the broadcasting content of my clients, and no interest beyond leasing airtime, to register as foreign agents the DOJ is in effect censoring broadcasting from other countries.
In this case, it's Russia, but they can do the same for any other broadcaster foreign or domestic. If we allow this slippery slope to continue, we may see a day where the government will censor speech it doesn't like on CNN, MSNBC or Fox News. Where will it end?
The impact of your donation
No business or individual wants to give up their rights unjustly. I have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Department of Justice to protect my rights and the rights of those similarly situated to me. Your donation will go to cover legal fees to fight in court. I have used my retirement savings to cover over $100,000 in legal fees already and hope that the result of this battle will allow me to maintain my livelihood. As a small businessman trying to support my family, it is difficult to take on these additional expenses.
Press about the case
The Washington Post
https://www.gofundme.com/small-businessman-takes-on-doj
Sputnik radio broadcast:
https://sputniknews.com/popup_radio/0/s
Organizer
Arnold Ferolito
Organizer
Jupiter, FL