[CW] Fw: 3600-3700 frequencies

[SX-25]

>Who else should I contact with these recommendations and statistics? 
>I will be glad to do so. Me and thousands of other CW ops would like 
>to see this portion given back to us.
 
>Thanks for your help and 73,
>Rodney Baker, W5DY


Scott and Rodney,

     I applaud your initiative and support you one hundred percent. Sadly we have watched one deleterious thing after another happen to our great avocation while the sycophants wring their hands and lift not a finger to so much as express an opinion.

     As for the absurd assertion that starting to schedule nets and contests above 3600 is somehow violating the sanctity of the phone band...excuse me, but it WAS OUR CW BAND before it was stolen from us. The implication that CW activities above 3600 is somehow a veiled suggestion that CW operators are doing so to cause intentional interference is just another example of the thin-skinned attitude of these hothouse violets that brought us to where we are today in ham radio. Wedging our foot in the door...or at least, through legislation, re-acquiring a reasonable amount of spectrum for CW operations (which we do not have now) might be considered is an example of the spirit that founded this great country. Had the Founding Fathers exercised the same namby-pamby attitudes that I hear on the ham bands today I wonder if anything would or could have happened in 1776.

     I have been an outspoken proponent of CW operations above 3600 for some time. Half of my operating time is spent there. True, the band is now outrageously restricted to Extra Class licensees (and those who hold so-called "Extra Class" codeless permits), but at least operations there would develop a presence which may cascade into growth and possibly a change in law. Once again a week ago I sat there listening to what must have been some digital data contest (RTTY) consume most of our puny 80 meter CW band. Meanwhile from 3600 to 3700 I heard not a single signal. What are we doing here and why are we denying ourselves enjoyment of our desired ham radio pursuits? Why are we so tentative about operating on a VERY QUIET portion of the spectrum that legally is as much ours as, now, the phone people? 

     Perhaps before the band is shut down completely to real hams, we should become more vocal and more pro-active.
Now is probably our first chance in a long, long time to bring some sanity back to radio licensing, spectrum utilization etc. 
Already the incoming Administration is leaning on the FCC and the agency has been told to "stand down" until a review of many of their past decisions is completed. This is being led by U.S. Representative Henry Waxman and Senator Jay Rockefeller.

Write to Senator Rockefeller and Representative Waxman and urge them to remain steadfast in their support of reassessment FCC decisions during the last 8 years, including fair utilization of the spectrum as well as bringing honor back to radio licensing.

Their addresses are:

Senator Jay Rockefeller
531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Representative Henry Waxman
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

And while you're at it, send a letter off to Vice-President Elect Joe Biden :

Vice President-Elect Joseph R. Biden
1105 North Market Street, Suite 2000
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1233

Cut and paste your letter to President Elect Obama at his website, 
www.change.gov (Letters mailed to him are being returned unopened so this is probably the most expeditious, if not only, way of letting your feelings be known).

None of this may do anything. But if we sit back and wring our hands instead of expressing ourselves through
words and our actions we will be assured that nothing will ever change for us CW operators.

ZUT,

Vern WA9VLK

-30-

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