[KL7AA] Fiscal Value of Amateur Radio

[Jim Larsen - AL7FS]

 From The ARES E-Letter for November 20, 2013
Letters: Fiscal Value of Amateur Radio

Regarding your MASH UP article in the last issue, in addition to the 
benefits you mention, both the public and the served agencies need to 
understand the fiscal value that ham radio provides. The presentation by 
Art Goddard, W6XD, (http://youtu.be/xmT1BXyZsy8) could not spell out the 
purposes of our amateur license grants any better. Just as fiscal grant 
recipients must be held accountable for spending grant money strictly 
according to grant guidelines, Amateur Radio must do the same. As a 
long-time employee in the commercial wireless industry, I can assure you 
that there are many companies licking their chops to bid their billions 
for the "underutilized amateur bandwidth."

As an example of proving the fiscal value of Amateur Radio, recently 
antenna zoning regulations came under sharp attack in the City/County of 
San Diego. When draconian antenna zoning changes were proposed, the San 
Diego DX Club rallied around the cause and clearly illustrated to the 
City/County the fiscal value of Amateur Radio: the number of hams in the 
county; the value of their equipment; the number of hours dedicated to 
served agencies, including them; et cetera. This information was all 
refined into a simple to understand figure of something in excess of 
$2.5 million of demonstrable fiscal benefit to the City/County. As a 
direct result of this action, the City/County backed off the draconian 
platform and negotiated a more realistic change with local amateurs.

Yes, Amateur Radio is cool. Yes, technology is cool. But we have to 
remember that the fabric (spectrum) of wireless communications is 
extremely valuable, and becoming more so each day. In order to preserve 
it for generations of amateurs to come, our fraternity absolutely must 
put our business hats on and make sure we know how to swim in the tank 
with the "business sharks," or we'll end up being a mashed up mess. - 
Fred Kleber, K9VV, Section Manager and Section Emergency Coordinator, US 
Virgin Islands
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-- 
Jim Larsen, PE
AL7FS
Section Manager - Alaska
American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
& Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)
Anchorage Alaska
907-345-3190