[CW] A Call to Arms

[Chris R. NW6V]

Hans,

I agree that fee-free is fairly new. But look at it this way; for a person
of limited means, it's not $5 per year - it's 50 bucks upfront. Not much
for you (or me)? Yay us. But for a 10-year-old kid? Somebody retired and
living on a small fixed income? (I know some). I believe it's the highest
fee ever for amateur licenses, and amounts to a profoundly regressive tax.

Based on info from the ARRL NW Div director, who attended our monthly
meeting last week, the ARRL made strong protests on our behalf. I'm sure
details are available on their site.

In my opinion, how it will turn out will depend on the motivations behind
the change. If it's stemmed from a mistaken administrative desire to make
the FCC and the services they serve pay their own way, it can be worked
out. However, if it's an effort to squeeze the amateur fraternity, with an
eye toward more frequency appropriations for commercial services (for whom
the $50 is a trifle), then that's another matter. A shrinking ham community
could have truly disastrous consequences as competition for bandwidth
continues to heat up.

The outcome will be a strong clue. Either they'll say "oops" or "ef off."

When I was a kid back in the early sixties we used to call the FCC
"Friendly Cousin Charlie" knowing only too well there was nothing friendly
about it. Hams are today an anachronism. We need to keep the administrative
barriers to the hobby as low as possible.

73 Chris NW6V

On Tue, Nov 24, 2020 at 2:23 PM Hans Brakob <kzerohb at gmail.com> wrote:

> For many years, starting over 60 years ago, I paid license fees and
> renewal fees for my Amateur Radio licenses.  “Free Ham Licenses” is a
> fairly new thing, and I’m surprised it has lasted long as it has.
>
>
>
> The proposal of $50.00 for 10 years ($5 per year) isn’t even worth
> mentioning.  Back in 1958 I think I paid $8 for a 5-year license.  In
> todays dollar, the 10-year license would cost on the order of $140.  $50 is
> a bargain.
>
>
>
> 73, de Hans, KØHB
>
> “Just a Boy and his Radio”™
>
>
>
>
>
> *From: *D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net>
> *Sent: *Tuesday, November 24, 2020 19:24
> *To: *CW Reflector <cw at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject: *[CW] A Call to Arms
>
>
>
> I just received this plea:
>
>
>
> *A Call to Arms*
>
> *Act NOW to save ham radio!*
>
> The FCC has proposed a *$50 fee* on all new ham radio licenses, renewals,
> upgrades, vanity call signs requests, etc.  Voice your opinion before it’s
> too late!
>
> The period for *new* comments closed on November 16th, but you can still reply
> to *existing* comments until November 30th
> <https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/filings?proceedings_name=20-270&sort=date_disseminated,DESC>.
> Look for comments that align with your views and add your opinion as a
> reply.  *Let's overwhelm the FCC with responses!*
>
> 73
>
> DR
>
> N1EA
>
>
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> =30=
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