A reason we're withering- Uncle Scam doesn't
see us as an asset any more. In fact, factions
in the Federal government see us as a liability-
"fill-in-the-blank-o-phobes" with the ability
to broadcast (with probably six people in the
whole world listening; such a threat- but don't
expect Uncle Scam to think things through
unless he can skim a dime).
Several years ago, I was speaking with an FCC
person who, while a good guy, was brutally frank
about Washington's attitude toward spending any
significant money and/or time on ham radio:
"Why should we spend money and time on
a bunch of dying old men in a dying old hobby
about a dead technology?" OUCH.
I know; "all good things," but day-ummmm.
IMHO, Washington does, however, see our bands
as an asset. Soon as they find a way to
get a nickel from it and a satisfactory
money-laundering scheme to fit,
they'll sell them out from under us.
Dave S.