[Qcwa] Dumbing Down....

[DMulloy]

The FCC seems to be a lawyer and MBA run outfit these days...District
offices being closed...delegating marine vessel radio inspection to FCC
commercial ticket holders, etc. I recently got employed in the marine
electronics service business after being away from that area for 20 years or
so. Now a boat owner thinks nothing of buying a radar and installing it,
along with GPS, fish finders, autopilots, etc. Then they try to make a
warranty claim against the manufacturer or even better "want another one
that works" from the salesman. I have seen cruise ships, ferries, etc., with
installs that a cub scout would have done better. And marine VHF channel 16
which is the international Distress and Calling Channel gets tied up for 10
to 45 minutes at a time when the foreign flag vessels (Korean/Japanese car
carriers, or former Soviet block wheat carriers) are in port as they carry
on BS type conversations in their language. Although the Coast Guard Group
tries to get them to move, they know the FCC is no longer around. Another
9/11 type disaster in a port setting will really be fouled up by this type
of operation. I also have found base stations running HF SSB with CB type
"kickers" on marine frequencies to "quote tuna prices to the fishermen",
with no license whatsoever. One of these did have a 3 KW Henry Radio
amplifier into an MFJ 250 watt tuner. I feel it is time for the FCC to get
back into the enforcement business in everything from outboard motor fishing
craft to international commerce vessels. Also the stores that will sell any
kind of radio transmitting device to anyone without any proof of license
need to get their knuckles rapped too. At least one of the marine equipment
vendors customer service lines starts out their telephone automated voice
system with "...if you purchased your equipment at Wal-Mart, press 1..."
In the aviation field I have seen horrible installs at major airports for
the airline company frequency systems. Now some airport authorities are
taking the bull by the horns and have come up with overkill in port
codes....like requiring Cat 5 cable for a simple DC remote control unit to
the radio, or intermod studies into UHF and microwave for 7 watt VHF AM base
stations. By default, the FCC is letting this happen.
I have known many highly respected technical FCC people over the years, but
they are retired or have had their local offices closed. It seems selling
spectrum to the highest bidder it the role that the commissioners feel they
are to fulfill.
And the local broadcast stations seem to get off frequency, over modulate,
or in some cases miss ID times as the "canned satellite feed" programming
runs on apparently unattended by anyone with a license at risk due to the
"dumbing down" of the broadcast stations to "industry certified" personnel
in place of a license.
I have never been a fan of regulation for regulation's sake...but
deregulation by the FCC is certainly a mistake.
73
Doug, K7ABX, QCWA Life Member, OOTC, US Navy (retired), etc.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Gregory W. Moore" <gwmoore@moorefelines.com>
To: <qcwa@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2002 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Qcwa] ARRL Membership Numbers


> Yes, I do believe that the Amateur service is in deep s***. This has
> nothing to do with ARRL, the quantity of new licenses, but because of
> the "dumb & dumber" approach by the FCC regarding licence classes, and
> the "no code" deal.
>     This includes the FCC approach to Commercial Radiotelephone and
> Radiotelegraph licenses as well. "Just doing away with them" does not,
> IMHO contribute to the quality of people who are out there doing the
> work which used to require these licenses....
>