[Fists] refarming

[Richard A. Stern]

I don't know if bringing up it's wartime is going to help your argument.
During WWII the FCC and at the time Dept. of WAR shut down all amateur
operation for the duration. I would mention though what an asset AR was
during 911.

I am going to make a comment to the FCC. But, I have to knock around
approaches and ideas that make the 'Novice CW Bands' more of a value,
leaving them as they are or let those interested encroach on the bands we
use.

I always looked at our bands as natural resources put aside for the public
enjoyment and it seems the ARRL agrees with that point of view as stated in
their "FCC RULE BOOK" (12th Edition; pg A-2) I quote:

"Amateur Radio can be compared to our system of public parks:it requires
protection from exploitation or conversion to commercial use so the public
can use it and benefit from its use. The rules are designed to help protect
Amateur Radio from such encroachment"

In my opinion, according to the ARRL's concept of FCC duties. The FCC is not
following its own motives for PART 97.

Commercial interest is what is pushing this anyway. There's a gold mine in
our frequencies.
The big push for everything to be wireless and expanded options in cellular
capabilities requires band width. There is no great quick return of profit
from Amateur Radio. Our hobby and the use of it's bands are supposed to be
used to educate the electrical engineers and technicians of the future. How
can that be accomplished without enough bandwidth in the BAND PLAN for CW.

CW is the first step to learning about modulation. It also is the right mode
to build inexpensive transceivers, tune them up and operate. I can get an
eleven year old to build
a small rig from an easy schematic (say when the ARRL's features the
"Tuna-Tin" rigs).
What's the cost say $10 to $20. What's the benefit priceless in the amount
of education that went on during the construction of such a project.

I believe that restructuring is at first glance, sounds like a good thing to
do. If you look at it in the long run their is no real advantage except
taking away resources that are needed for education. You can run simulations
all day on a computer and learn the words and basics of circuit theory. It
isn't until you put the information into action and build a working model
does that education finally crystallize in the mind. It's the cw part of the
spectrum where that valuable education happens.

Going back to the National Parks analogy. I suppose that because there are
not visitors on every square foot of Yellowstone camping or hiking; the
government should sell off three quarters of the park's territory with the
excuse that;
             "Some of the territory just wasn't used enough. It's just a
waste to have all those priceless resources sit there, when they could be
sold."

I personally feel that there are to many corporate lobbies getting to much
attention. HAMS can't possibly have the presence in Washington that the
communications industry can. We can't dazzle Congress with videos or
computer generated feasibility studies or offer a free lunch. Amateur Radio
is a long term investment with no instant gratification. In the long run we
win. Look at the articles in QST or CQ and other magazines about how HAMS
have given their skills during disasters like 9-11 or when violent weather
strikes. You can rest assure that a HAM was there helping with making
communications better for health and welfare.

Where does all that ability begin. It begins with learning how to apply the
principles of modulation. You might not hear a great event like before the
turn of the last century
when Bell yelled "Watson! Come Here!" and he was heard in some crude
earphone.
But, you will hear "Dad! (or Mom!) Come Here!... Look ! What I've built!"
Can you put a price on that?

May be we could knock this around and make a petition to get signature to be
sent to all our Reps. as well as a copy to the FCC. We can't stand still for
this.


Peninsula Radio Operators Society
http://www.intercom.net/npo/pros/index.html
No Fat in our HAM-LINKS!
Webmaster: NW3N
FISTS#2504  ARLHS#583

----- Original Message -----
From: "ken cubilo electric" <kce@chartermi.net>
To: <fists@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 6:51 PM
Subject: [Fists] refarming


> Yes Jeff Davis has a good idea there. Maybe next time the ARRL will we
> do a honest survey instead of stacking the deck in their favor. This one
> needs to get lots of comments filed on it, due to the favor its going to
> get from the no-codes and other voice only ops.
> ken w8ob #7242
> --
> SUPPORT RADIO-TELEGRAPH THE VOICE OF THE PROFESSIONAL RADIO OP.
> MEMBER FISTS, QCWA, SOWP, VWOA, QRPARC-I AND FPQRP-I
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