[QCWA] Hollingsworth to retire Jan 08

[Radioguy]

FCC's Riley Hollingsworth to Retire in January 2008

Riley Hollingsworth, Special Counsel in the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, 
announced his retirement this week, effective Friday, January 3, 
2008. While his successor has not been named, Hollingsworth was quick 
to point out that the FCC's Amateur Radio enforcement program will continue.

Hollingsworth told the ARRL: "After about a year of thinking about 
the 'if not now, when?' question, I decided to retire January 3. I 
love working for the FCC and I've always had great jobs, but this one 
involving the Amateur Radio Service has been the most fun and I have 
enjoyed every day of it. For nine years I've worked with the best 
group of licensees on earth, enjoyed your support and tremendous FCC 
support and looked forward every day to coming to work. The Amateur 
Radio enforcement program will continue without missing a beat, and 
after retirement I look forward to being involved with Amateur Radio 
every way I can. I thank all of you for being so dedicated and 
conscientious, and for the encouragement you give us every day."

Speaking at the New England Division Convention in August 2000, 
Hollingsworth offered his 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/00/0901/rileys10.html>10 personal 
suggestions to secure a sound future for Amateur Radio, encouraging 
amateurs to "seize the moment" to ensure a bright future for Amateur 
Radio. "Look beyond enforcement," he urged, "because if I do my job 
right, in five years you won't even remember my name." Hollingsworth 
said that while no one can predict the future, amateurs must invent 
theirs in an era of converging digital and RF technology. "There is 
no reason why our Amateur Radio Service can't be the envy of the rest 
of the world," he said. Getting there, he suggested, comes with each 
amateur's taking responsibility for his or her behavior on the air. 
Amateurs should encourage arrogant, negative operators to "take their 
anger and hate to the Internet," he said. "Every minute they are on 
the Internet is a minute they aren't on Amateur Radio."

ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, said, "Riley 
Hollingsworth has been a tremendous supporter of and asset to the 
Amateur Radio Service. He will be remembered as being the force 
behind the re-introduction of Amateur Radio enforcement in 1998 and 
continuing those efforts through today. His contribution in cleaning 
up the amateur bands has been substantial and effective. While we are 
very sorry to see him go, and we wish him every continued success."