[QCWA] It's official... we are secondary.

[W1EOF]

>From this week's ARRL Letter...

 The entire statement is on the ARRL website for your inspection.

 I thought this part indicates the attitude of the FCC, and also indicates
how seriously they'll take any BPL complaints.  I quote in part:

______________________________________________________________________


BPL operators would be required to avoid certain bands, such as those used
for life and safety communications by aeronautical mobile or US Coast
Guard stations. The FCC R&O makes clear, however, that similar rules will
not apply to the Amateur Service.

"We similarly do not find that Amateur Radio frequencies warrant the
special protection afforded frequencies reserved for international
aeronautical and maritime safety operations," the Commission said. "While
we recognize that amateurs may on occasion assist in providing emergency
communications," the FCC added. It described typical amateur operations as
"routine communications and hobby activities."

Although some cases of harmful interference may be possible from BPL
emissions at levels up to Part 15 limits, the FCC said, "we agree with
NTIA [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] that the
benefits of Access BPL service warrant acceptance of a small and
manageable degree of interference risk." The Commission reiterated in the
R&O its belief that BPL's public benefits "are sufficiently important and
significant so as to outweigh the limited potential for increased harmful
interference that may arise."

______________________________________________________________________


Ok.  It's about as official as it gets: we're a "routine hobby",
that MAY on OCCASION ASSIST in providing emergency communications. For
the first time in history we are being told we have secondary status
on our bands.

We really need to do EVERYTHING possible to clear-up this misunderstand 
and not let it stand. Our privledges on the bands are being attacked, 
and the government organization that was charged to protecting them
for us is telling us that we are "secondary users." I understand it
can be discourging but we really cannot stand by and watch this happen.
Write letters - emails - calls to all your representatives. Join your
local ARES/RACES/SATERN group and participate as best you can. 

I know we all have busy lives but this is a pivotal point in history.

73,

Mark W1EOF