I've asked Counsel Siddall again this evening to please expedite his advice and suggestions. He'd indicated a few days ago that he was working on it when we had some questions raised about how and when to file comments. We said in the article in the ARRL Letter, and in the revised article on the webpage, that we intend on filing comments in opposition, and the Board is clear on that point. 73,Rick - K5UR -----Original Message----- From: Mickey Baker <fishflorida@gmail.com> To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> Sent: Fri, Sep 11, 2020 7:40 pm Subject: [arrl-odv:30923] Re: Proposed Amateur Radio Application Fees If you go to youtube.com and search for ARRL Fee, you'll find a dozen videos that vary, but are fairly negative about the fees and the ARRL's lack of clear, strong opposition. A popular vlogger, K6UDA, says at https://youtu.be/AQJwNDSip30?t=170 "One thing that I did notice about the article here, (re: our August 28 web posting) is, this is, it really looks like a straight news article. which, you know what, as far as the news. that's what you'll want you just report the news. I get it, but the ARRL is an advocacy group. To be perfectly honest, from this article, I can't even tell what the ARRL's position is on this new rule making, if they even have a position. Right now, (Friday, September 11, 8:30EDT), there are 11,221 views of this video and 375 comments, some very negative about ARRL. I believe that we have agreement among the Directors that we are asking our Washington counsel to draft opposing comments to all facets of this proposal for our review and subsequent filing. Can we please substitute an article which states this and replaces the current article? I'm getting many emails and phone calls about this. In these times (and forward) we must do better with timely changes to online media. Mickey Baker, N4MB Palm Beach Gardens, FL “The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead." Robert K. Greenleaf On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 9:29 PM Mickey Baker <fishflorida@gmail.com> wrote: Agree with Dale, Jim, John and Ria and many prior comments.I’ve had a number of members write in opposition. The consensus is, yes, $50 every 10 years won’t hurt most of us but it will provide an economic barrier to entry to those considering amateur radio - particularly young and economically disadvantaged. It will definitely have a dampening effect on the growth of amateur radio. We should charge our counsel to compose a full throated, broad oppositional response to this proposal on our behalf, and perhaps provide a template for member opposition filings. 73, Mickey N4MB On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 8:56 PM rjairam@gmail.com <rjairam@gmail.com> wrote: John, Full agreement here. 73Ria, N2RJ On Thu, Sep 3, 2020 at 8:25 PM John Robert Stratton <N5AUS@n5aus.com> wrote: All I posted this to the EC reflector, but forgot to cross post it. If we are to preserve the support of our Members, our donors, the respect of the perennial naysayers and the FCC, I believe we must oppose the planned assessment of fees against Amateur licensees. Even, if based on David Siddal's advice and opinion, we may face an uphill battle or even no chance of prevailing, we should use the opportunity to take a public stand — with a well articulated and published position and campaign— against the implementation of the proposed fees. One of our most damaging failings — and it has been for many years — is that we do not communicate well to the public or with our Members that the League is always standing for the rights of Amateur Radio and our Members; that failing cries out to be corrected. Our current town criers do not serve us well. Who knows? By entering the lists, we might just take the day. _______________________________________ John Robert Stratton N5AUS Director West Gulf Division Office: 512-445-6262 Cell: 512-426-2028 P.O. Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 _______________________________________ _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv -- “Ends and beginnings—there are no such things. There are only middles.” Robert Frost _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv