[CW] We're not a privileged SERVICE ...

[Fred Adsit]

------- Original Message ------
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 09:46:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: uhsteinberg@earthlink.net
Reply-To: ulrich@steinberg.cc
To: cw@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [CW] We're not a privileged SERVICE ...

Because it is NOT just a hobby. It is a government SERVICE, subject to
international treaties.  The day we become "just a hobby" will be the day
ham radio ceases to be.
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Alan,
You mean like Citizens Band Radio SERVICE, or Family Radio SERVICE? (they,
too, have spectrum allocations that are subject to international
agreements ...) Of course it's just a hobby, and you shouldn't try to
expect special privileges or protection because of that magic word in its
name.  A small minority of us have ever provided a public service (on a
voluntary basis - I'm not aware of any mandatory service we have to
provide) or would know how to fill such a role, and whatever the services
we provided they probably did not involve CW, and therefore will not
provide a rationale to protect CW band allocations.
The elimination of the 5wpm requirement doesn't change the facts too much:
it doesn't take a lot of effort to pass that test, and if you do it
doesn't realistically enable you to communicate since the typical speed on
the bands is probably three times faster.  Those who strive to master CW
will continue to do so even if it's not required - after all it's one of
the few skills in ham radio these days that require a bit of tenacity and
give a sense of accomplishment.
Rather than petition the FCC or pressure ARRL into a position to retain
the worthless 5wpm requirement, we should focus our energies on making
sure that some part of the bands remain reserved for CW (and other
non-voice modes).  THAT is the real battle, and we cannot expect
protection from a misplaced hope that we'll be seen as a government
service - we clearly are not.
73, Ric, N2DE  (100% CW)
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>From NY2V:
"PART 97--AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE--Table of Contents
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
Sec. 97.1  Basis and purpose.
    The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an
amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the
following principles:
    (a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service
to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service,
particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
    (b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to
contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
    (c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through
rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and
technical phases of the art."
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Well, Ric, you have had your opportunity to BE a service, in traffic
handling if nothing else. The Part 97 definition has always been very
clear to me, and I spent years handling traffic, including health and
welfare traffic, and on CW at that - I won't bother to discuss my
activities in ARES/RACES which for the MOST part involve VHF comms on
phone, but not entirely. I don't recall ever feeling that this was just a
hobby. I do not see (a), (b) and (c) above as a multiple choice option. I
am old and tired but I help pay the freight, and few hams do that. The
fact they do not is no reason to say we are not a service. We are far more
so than any other halfway similar "service", but "we" means, as you say,
"a  small minority of us". Is this a criticism of your right to be a ham
and whether you have fulfilled your duty as a servant to the government? I
suppose so, but it's a free country filled with those who have no regard
for Stop Signs, much less government Rules and Regs re Amateur Radio. It
is a criticism of EVERY ham who has ignored the multi-part definition and
spent their time doing everything BUT providing a public service. How do
you expect us to preserve a single thing in the way of room to operate
with Morse code if you cannot cite a reason based on something beyond
tradition and sentimental trash? If we cannot show the value of CW as a
service, don't even bother to petition the FCC or strong-arm the
self-serving poll-ignoring ARRL. Most hams made this bed and now we will
have to lie in it, Ric. "a misplaced hope that we'll be seen as a
government service - we clearly are not."? Baloney, Ric. That is not
"clear" at all. We were always supposed to be, on a voluntary basis (i.e.
they meant we don't get paid for it). That is my opinion, and that
definition has not changed since I got a ticket 55 years ago.
73,
Fred Adsit NY2V - Syracuse, NY
ex-W2ZOJ 1948
ex-STM WNY
ex-NM - NYS CW Net
Member ARES / RACES
A-1 Op
NY2V is not a vanity call sign. Just luck of the draw, at the time.
W2ZOJ - ZUT Amateur Radio Club - membership Closed.
Its members waged a unified war with regard to restructuring.
Ham Radio lost, which shows what our chances are Now....
Although I belong, the ARRL is corrupt and impotent, and
the FCC's Bill Cross W3TN will likely write a NPRM
based on the recent WRC decisions.
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