[AMRadio] Ham Radio Question on the Clark Howard Show

Sun Jan 16 11:11:15 EST 2005

Having to respond to complaints of telephone and RFI to broadcast devices in 
the past, I had to address the actions required of me to resolve the 
problems.

In 1995 I had neighbors who experienced telephone interference and 
complained.  At that time, the FCC website addressed the telephone issue 
with documentation telling consumers that the FCC would not longer be 
involved with the process.  The stated reason was that the proliferation of 
devices that were susceptible to RF interference from legally licensed radio 
services were so great that the FCC could not solve the problem

The FCC asked that the amateur station, if involved, attempt to assist the 
complaining party with the issue but did not require any action other than 
providing information on how to solve the problem.   The FCC site also made 
it clear that they would not involve themselves with Part 15 devices unless 
the device was causing harmful interference to a licensed station.  Recently 
the FCC has warned an owner of an electric wheel chair charging device that 
the owner must eliminate the interference to an Amateur Station or face 
possible fines and sanctions.

In past years, the FCC has required companies who manufacture devices that 
emit radiation that has not performed tests to meet Part 15, to do so.  In 
all my dealings with the FCC they have maintained that licensed services 
enjoy statutory protection from non regulated services.  If you doubt this, 
read the FCC enforcement letters posted on the ARRL website each week.

Personally, I feel, we as amateurs should assist others in deterring where 
problems are generated, but should not obligate ourselves to repairs of 
these devices, to do so, incurs legal liability.

73  Jim
W5JO

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim candela" <jcandela at prodigy.net>
To: "Discussion of AM Radio" <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 8:26 AM
Subject: RE: [AMRadio] Ham Radio Question on the Clark Howard Show

>
>
> Hi Group,
>
>    The thread about telephone interference has about run it's course.
> Interestingly, another ham and I disagree on the topic. This revolves over
> whether we as licensed hams can legally transmit when we know we are
> interfering with a FCC Part 15 certified device. On my phone, it says the
> following:
>
> "This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject 
> to
> the following two conditions:
>
> 1.) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
> 2.) This device must accept any interference received, including
> interference that may cause undesired operation."
>
> I try to separate the legal from the ethical as follows:
>
> "Very few if any Ham would knowingly do this. The complexity of RF 
> radiation
> is high, and the susceptibility of various home consumer electronics 
> varies
> widely. There is no way to know what will happen until you try."
>
> The other ham (KA7DCQ) says:
>
>
> "If I may interject a comment. We as licensed radio operators are not
> allowed to do anything that knowingly and I underscore knowingly will 
> cause
> harmful interference to other equipment."
>
>
> I didn't state it on the thread, but my take is similar to the above but
> would be reworded as follows:
>
> We as licensed radio operators are not allowed to do anything that 
> knowingly
> and I underscore knowingly will cause harmful interference to other 
> licensed
> services, and maybe NON Part15 FCC certified devices. If you have a Part 
> 15
> device that is experiencing interference, call the manufacturer, or 
> contact
> the FCC. If you want my assistance, I'd be glad to help, however this is 
> not
> my problem; it is yours. Go to the FCC website, and download.....
>
> Who is correct???
>
>
> http://clarkhoward.com
>
> Click on message boards, then technology, and look for my call letters,
> wd5jko
>
> or:
>
>
> http://clarkhoward.com/p/boards/ch/postlist.pl?Cat=&Board=clarkhowardtechnol
> ogy&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5
>
> Regards,
> Jim Candela
> WD5JKO
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:amradio-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Jim candela
> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 7:48 PM
> To: Amradio at Mailman.Qth.Net
> Subject: [AMRadio] Ham Radio Question on the Clark Howard Show
>
>
>
>
> Hi Group,
>
>   Last week during the evening I was listening to the Clark Howard Show. I
> like Clark because he tries to find ways to keep people from getting 
> ripped
> off. Anyway, a man called in, and stated that he was being interfered with
> by a ham radio operator who was coming through his telephone. The
> conversation went back and forth, and seemed to paint the ham as the
> problem, and they discussed ways of getting rid of him. No call letters 
> were
> mentioned, and it appeared that the man could understand the ham over the
> telephone. This implies that the ham was running AM. Was he a ham or maybe 
> a
> CB'er?
>
>    I signed up for Clark's message boards, and made a post under the
> category, "Technology". The thread has been interesting, and two other 
> hams
> have jumped in to help.
>
> I thought this group would be interested in this. Please let me know if my
> posts are or are not on target. Don't hesitate to jump in. Maybe someone 
> has
> some good links for what ham radio is all about, and the FCC's stand on
> interference.
>
> Regards,
> Jim Candela
> WD5JKO
>
> http://clarkhoward.com/p/boards/ch/wwwthreads.pl
> --
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