[HoustonHam] CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement

[Chris Boone]

About time SOMEONE called for this---too much crap starting to happen in the
ham bands again (especially poor operators who ignore the rules of IDing,
what and when to transmit, etc..some starting to sound like CB.or EVEN
worse!! of course with no code and 1day VE test sessions that don't teach
anything technical BUT how to pass a test (big whoop), should we be
surprised?? Even without the code, my written tests as a Novice, General and
Advanced required me to THINK and figure out the answers and there were no
study guides with the ANSWERS in them, which in my personal opinion is
dumbing down the hobby; when they know the answer but don't know WHAT IT
means, how can they say they know the theory??..and in the Part 97 rules, it
says the amateur radio service is supposed to provide "Expansion of the
existing reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators,
technicians, and electronics experts" (Part 97.1.d). .I think that stopped
about the time the FCC started publicly publishing the answers to the
test...about mid 80s iirc..After the FCC killed off the Commercial Radio
Telephone licenses.(made my hard earned commercial ticket a worthless piece
of paper).

 

 

> NEWS RELEASE

> 

> For more information, contact:

> Richard Moseson (W2VU)

> Editor, CQ Amateur Radio

> (516) 681-2922 / w2vu at cq-amateur-radio.com

> 

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2008

> 

> CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement

> 

> (Hicksville, NY November 18, 2008) -- CQ magazine is calling on FCC 

> Enforcement Bureau Chief Kris Monteith to move swiftly to name a 

> successor to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as Special Counsel for 

> Amateur Radio, and to bring FCC enforcement back to the ham bands.

> 

> Writing in his "Zero Bias" editorial in the December 2008 issue, CQ 

> Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, noted that the Commission not only has 

> failed to name a successor to Hollingsworth, but that not a single 

> amateur enforcement action has been taken since his retirement this 

> past July. At that time, the editorial noted, the amateur radio 

> community was assured that the Commission's dedication to enhanced 

> enforcement in the Amateur Service remains strong. However, the FCC's 

> total inaction since July suggests otherwise.

> 

> "This is deeply disturbing and of grave concern," wrote Moseson, 

> adding, "It would be a tragedy, and a travesty, if the FCC were to go 

> back on its promise to be there for us and allowed amateur enforcement 

> to once again drop off the radar."

> 

> "The need for continuing amateur enforcement was reinforced after the 

> issue was went to press when CQ was informed of an outburst of racist 

> diatribes on 20 meters, including the transmission of recordings of a 

> Hitler rally and Nazi marching songs. "This type of behavior was all 

> too common before 'Sheriff' Riley came to town a decade ago," noted 

> Moseson, "and it quickly disappeared once it became obvious that 

> someone in authority was paying attention. But now, only a matter of 

> months since Riley handed in his badge, it has become obvious to these 

> hams that they are once again free to do whatever they please without 

> fear of any consequences."

> 

> "The FCC must get back into the amateur enforcement business, and it 

> must do so quickly," says Moseson, "before the situation once again 

> gets out of control. Enforcement Bureau Chief Monteith must act 

> promptly to name a successor to Riley Hollingsworth and assure 

> amateurs that they have not once again been abandoned by the 

> Commission."

 

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