_______________________________________________The board may recall a few weeks ago I relayed some concerns EPA section members, who are VEs, had about helping certain groups get licensed. Some here pointed out it may not be our call as to what is business use and what is not, concerning amateur radio. That may be right or at least reasonable minds may differ as to whether intended use by non-profit groups for operations is considered business or improper use of our spectrum. The use by the oath keepers may be little different than a big radio club.
Below I forward some follow up. The video presentation by the Oath Keepers is interesting. I make no judgement, and many people would suggest the referenced group in the video are mostly honorable folks – I think that may be right. But my concern might be use of our spectrum for other than traditional amateur radio operations, even if licensed and even if entirely non-profit. Some on this board responded privately to me last time I raised this and observed similar interest by prepper or other groups in getting a large group licensed only to not pursue any licensing after they were shown the systems and radios available.
An analogy which might be useful to consider is if the Red Cross used its licensed operators to run regular non-profit operations over the amateur bands. Sometimes they border on that in my area. Is it helpful to our long-term health as a radio service? The video is interesting as they suggest use of even certain public safety radio frequencies is allowed during emergency operations by non-law enforcement groups to coordinate with police or other emergency responders. The applicable FCC rules, part 90 and others, are a bit more complicated than that of course.
Just an FYI. I don’t know there is much more to be discussed about this, yet, nor is there anything we might do. If this type of use becomes more popular in a few years, well. . . But I thought this might be of interest. I hope I am wrong, but such use may be a problem a few years from now.
Bob Famiglio, K3RF
Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division
610-359-7300
From: melody@mars73.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 11:52 AM
To: K3RF Bob Famiglio <RBFamiglio@verizon.net>
Subject: Amateur Radio frequencies being used by Oathkeepers network
Hi Bob,
I have a Google Alert on Amateur Radio and yesterday I saw a new entry that includes a video I found disturbing: The Oathkeepers have chosen Amateur Radio frequencies to be their communication method for emergency communication. This video was created in AZ with the goal to share it with members in other states. I believe this has to do with their activities planned in and around the general election.
My club was contacted twice this year by someone claiming to be a regional coordinator for the Oathkeepers. His name is Chuck Ortwein and he requested license training with a focus on the creation of a communication network and a license exam session for thirty people. We declined the request — we are not meeting or offering exams due to the pandemic. I didn’t think too much of it until I saw the recent threats for a “civil war” made by their national leader which led to the groups’s recent ban on Twitter and Facebook. It’s my understanding that they will soon receive training and an exam session by another person or group in SE PA.
There are many hams who like and defend this group. Many of their members are former law enforcement and military personnel. But their planned use of Amateur Radio frequencies as a tool for their group emergency communications is very concerning to me. This usage is not in the spirit of Amateur Radio.
If you think it is appropriate I’d appreciate your sharing this with others in the ARRL so they can be made aware of this effort. Yesterday I shared it with the EPA Section Mgr.
YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/DoYpn77H6NA
(26:45 minutes)
Thank you.
73
Melody, KB3SJR
Melody
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