[Milsurplus] OT: The UK OFCOM Has Struck

[Nick England]

FWIW - License fees for radio and TV receivers in Britain supported
advertising-free BBC broadcasts. It was a different economic model from US
broadcasting. Nothing to do with Cold War. People continued to receive BBC
and other broadcasts during WW2 regardless of German bombers and rockets.
Most ham transmission in the U.S. and UK were banned during
WW2 understandably.

Outside of WW1 and WW2, the U.S. and UK license transmitters for spectrum
control, not for spy potential.

The FCC could get 11m leenyar listings pulled off eBay if they wanted to.
Or for non type approved equipment where that is required.
If Doug had listed his HT sale as U.S. only it wouldn't have gotten any
attention from the UK authorities, but listing it for sale to the UK put it
into their domain where the laws are different.

On Wednesday, November 4, 2015, George Frederick <gefred08 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well up into the last century, the British Post Office exerted such
> control over ordinary subjects of England that even radio receivers &
> tele's had to be properly registered with the Crown. And only BBC-1, 2 & 3
> tele channels were allowed viewing. In all fairness to radio history, the
> Brit's had to exert this level of control in WWII on into the Cold Ware Era
> for two primary reasons: suppress, more like more easily direction find
> illicit transmitters in use by spys, and, especially within high population
> areas eliminate signals enemy buzz bombs could potentially use to home in
> upon. The latter was extremely sensitive and the former made for a good
> excuse to exert controls.  Ironucally, history now reveals that the truly
> danger from within in Great Britian was actually in-place spys even at most
> high levels of the government.  It is a carry-over of this age old
> population control mentality that caused rejection of your ad for handi
> talkies. Being half UK by mum's side, I have heard these stories and so
> much more since the Great Wars. Some things just never change, Doug. God
> bless America......  AF6JT George
>


-- 
Nick England K4NYW
www.navy-radio.com