[PaQSO] Only the required power

[Duane, WV2B]

Hi Folks,
I just wanted to comment on the thought that every station in the qso party was in vioaltion of the FCC rule regarding use of the minimum neccessary power. The application mentioned was a somewhat simplistic view {perhaps that was intentional to make a point?}. That particular rule is not as black and white as it may at first seem, and is open to interpretation.
For example: QRO may not be necessary to work the guy in the next county on 40 Meters when I call cq in the party. But, I also desire to attract callers from the out of state areas as well. The out of state guy in MN may not hear me with low power, but may be workable with high power. My desired communication is with the weak, far away stations as well.
In addition, I wish to be be able to stay on a frequency and call cq and answer callers. QRO may not be needed to exchange reports with the guy in the next county on a clear frequency. But, in order to stay on a frequency and hold it, and not be crowded out by others moving in too close for me to hear respondents, using qro may be a necessity to carry out the desired communications.
I can speak from experience that when I have relinquished a calling frequency to a mobile or a lower power station, it is generally not very long before the station is blasted off the frequency, even though it was clear when I gave it to him.
So, it is not a simple black and white rule. The qrpers may be able to cq sometimes, especially now that activity is down, and the bands larger than years past. But, they likely have a very difficult time trying to find a workable frequency, and probably don't hold it for bery long.
Some FCC rules are black and white, others are open to inerpretation. Even for the seemingly black and white rules I have heard every excuse in the book why it didn't apply to someone {I only did it for a short time, everyone else was doing it too, it was not serious, etc.}.
So, I don't think a blanket condemnation is in order regarding this particular rule. Of course, others are welcome to disagree with me.
73, Duane, WV2B

"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it."- 
Ralph Waldo Emerson