[QCWA] Major Change In Licensing Structure

[Tom Loughney]

Finally,
An FCC decision that really reflects how much (or little) they value the Amateur Radio Service. Since QRZ.com has millions of members, it only makes sense they should be chosen over a small subset of members like those who belong to the antiquated American Radio Relay League. (Come on, when was the last time any of you relayed a message by Amateur Radio. OK so a few did it from Puerto Rico but before that it was the First Gulf War in the 1970's). With Amateur Satellites and HT's we can just talk to each other. Now if QRZ can just make PRB-1 apply to all locations inside the US we can be done with these HOA's and CC&R's and finally get antennas that let us really communicate the way we were intended to. In almost every case we would not even have those annoying restrictions if local governments (covered under PRB-1) were not abrogating their responsibilities to meet basic service levels to developers who are forced into it and save a buck by cutting out antennas. I would support an effort to forward this news to every Ham you know, all the FCC commissioners, and all your members of Congress thanking them for doing next to nothing and reminding them not to call us for any needs in the future. If we are needed for a National Emergency the President can Tweet that request out and cut out all the red tape in Congress.
73,AJ4XM, Tom Loughney 

    On Sunday, April 1, 2018 7:05 PM, TwelveVDC--- via QCWA <qcwa at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
 

 FCC Relinquishes Amateur Radio Licensing

In a shocking and unexpected move, the FCC today transferred all amateur radio licensing responsibility to QRZ.com, releasing Report and Order 2018-699. Outgoing Chairman Julius Genchowski read a statement noting that the decision was due to a combination automatic budget cuts from budget sequestration and an acknowledgement of reality. Other commissioners released similar written statements. The Report and Order stated, ”Our enforcement bureau received an inquiry from a radio amateur who was banned from QRZ.com (“QRZ”), an amateur radio portal and a popular callsign database. After his callsign listing was removed from the QRZ database, amateurs frequently questioned on the air whether he was really licensed. On a few occasions he was actually referred to as a ‘bootlegger’ by other radio amateurs, a derogatory term for an unlicensed individual operating illegally. Our research indicates that few licensees actually use the FCC ULS [the official online licensing database] for amateur radio license queries. In this ruling we have identified an opportunity to shed the responsibility of licensing and reduce administrative costs, and are therefore transferring administration of amateur radio licensing to a private entity.”

FCC Chairman Genchowski Makes Announcement to Stunned Audience

At press time ARRL had not released a written statement due to a backlog in the ARRL email server, still processing emails from a month ago. However, in a conference call this afternoon it was announced that ARRL was petitioning the FCC to withdraw the R&O until it could present its solution for privatizing amateur radio licensing, a solution employing 65,535 bit encryption technology which would be ready sometime in 2019.

QRZ praised the FCC change and announced that for a limited time free Extra class upgrades will be included with an XML subscription or purchase of Ham Radio Deluxe. QRZ forums were abuzz, with both support for and opposition against the change. One super moderator stated that QRZ super moderators will have enforcement privileges, with the ability to revoke licenses for bad behavior both online and on the air, later taunting to users to step out of line and “feel his wrath.”

The FCC announcement is the most notable change in US amateur radio licensing since the controversial and still-debated Incentive Licensing program, and will go into effect upon publication of the Report and Order in the Federal Register.

73,

Chuck Kraly, K0XM
ckraly at gmail.com 







< Forwarded by NL7XM > 

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