Putting phone calls on the air without the other party’s prior consent is strictly taboo, so KZMN in Montana, USA, has copped a $4,000 fine from the FCC.

This was for a call between the station’s Paul Gray and a listener, Lisa Simmer, that Gray aired live and, later, on tape.

Simmer, through a co-worker, had called to complain about a turkey being dangled from a window at the station and Gray told her that the station was running a promotion called “Save the Turkey” to raise donations for a food bank and that she should quit complaining and listen to the station.

The station said Gray thought she had called in on the on-air donation line. Nevertheless, because he replayed the call later after he was ostensibly aware she did not call in to donate, the station fired Gray and adopted a written policy regarding the airing of calls.

The FCC has reduced the fine from $6,000 due to the station’s previous record of compliance.