[SOC] FW: FCC Chairman Announces new "use-based" fee system for Amateur

[Reicher, James]

Subject: FCC Chairman Announces new "use-based" fee
system for Amateur Radio

August 12, 2004 06:11 PM EDT

Gettysburg, Pa (FCC)

In a surprise announcement today, FCC Chairman Michael
Powell released preliminary news of a new "user fee"
based revenue system for amateur radio operators. 
"This exciting initiative, suggested by a leading
amateur operator and jumpsuit model (photo at
http://tinyurl.com/48krd), is designed to raise funds
to subsidize the deployment of BPL service throughout
America, but especially in disadvantaged places like
Franklin County, Tennessee."

Details of the plan are not complete, but the fee
structure will be based on actual on-the-air use of
amateur radio, and will be sensitive to the value of
the communications in progress, according to the
Chairman.  "As an example, emergency communications
during a hurricane would be billed at a higher rate
than less valuable usage like the North Carolina 
Lumbago Net." Powell remarked.  "Contesters would get
special high volume discounts, since their
communications simply repeat the same old stuff over
and over all weekend long" he stated.

Fees will also vary based on the particular mode in
use, with CW being charged a premium rate because "it
get's through when nothing else can". Video modes like
SSTV, however, would command super-premium rates 
"because a picture is worth a thousand words" the
Chairman said.

In a related family announcement, Chairman Powell's
father, Secretary of State Colin Powell, stated that
the IARU would be contacted to ensure that foreign DX
operators communicating with US stations would be 
assessed fees based on their 'rarity' on the DXCC
"Most Wanted" listing.  Secretary Powell cited an
alleged operation from "T5" which he expected would
owe "several tens of thousands of dollars"
retroactively based on claims on an internet newsgroup
by an operator with the screen name "Billy Beeper".

Stay tuned for further details.  Movie at 10.