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

[THOMAS WEBB]

FCC is ignoring their own Part 15 rules, which require unlicensed transmitters to not cause interference to existing services.

Forgive me for being cynical, but this doesn't smell good.  Could it be possible that some of the public servants at FCC are taking bribes from BPL interests?  That sort of thing isn't exactly unknown in Washington.

I wrote a letter to QST suggesting this.  I doubt that it will see print.

Tom Webb  W4YOK

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: W1EOF 
  To: Discussion of QCWA 
  Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2004 3:21 PM
  Subject: [QCWA] It's official... we are secondary.


  >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
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