[South Florida DX Association] CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement

Bill Marx bmarx at bellsouth.net
Tue Nov 18 18:46:11 EST 2008


NEWS RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Richard Moseson (W2VU)
Editor, CQ Amateur Radio
(516) 681-2922 / w2vu at cq-amateur-radio.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2008

CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement

(Hicksville, NY November 18, 2008) -- CQ magazine is calling on FCC
Enforcement Bureau Chief Kris Monteith to move swiftly to name a successor
to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as Special Counsel for Amateur Radio, and to
bring FCC enforcement back to the ham bands.

Writing in his "Zero Bias" editorial in the December 2008 issue, CQ Editor
Rich Moseson, W2VU, noted that the Commission not only has failed to name a
successor to Hollingsworth, but that not a single amateur enforcement action
has been taken since his retirement this past July. At that time, the
editorial noted, the amateur radio community was assured that the
Commission's dedication to enhanced enforcement in the Amateur Service
remains strong. However, the FCC's total inaction since July suggests
otherwise.

"This is deeply disturbing and of grave concern," wrote Moseson, adding, "It
would be a tragedy, and a travesty, if the FCC were to go back on its
promise to be there for us and allowed amateur enforcement to once again
drop off the radar."

The need for continuing amateur enforcement was reinforced after the issue
was went to press when CQ was informed of an outburst of racist diatribes on
20 meters, including the transmission of recordings of a Hitler rally and
Nazi marching songs. "This type of behavior was all too common before
'Sheriff' Riley came to town a decade ago," noted Moseson, "and it quickly
disappeared once it became obvious that someone in authority was paying
attention. But now, only a matter of months since Riley handed in his badge,
it has become obvious to these hams that they are once again free to do
whatever they please without fear of any consequences."

"The FCC must get back into the amateur enforcement business, and it must do
so quickly," says Moseson, "before the situation once again gets out of
control. Enforcement Bureau Chief Monteith must act promptly to name a
successor to Riley Hollingsworth and assure amateurs that they have not once
again been abandoned by the Commission."

The full text of Moseson's editorial is online at <
www.cq-amateur-radio.com>, linked from the December issue highlights.




More information about the SFDXA mailing list