<grin> This is good.
-----Original Message----- From: K8JE [mailto:K8JE@arrl.org] Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 10:07 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:16639] FW: FCC to deregulate amateur radio
I guess I'm losing my sense of humor. When a friend sent the following to me, all I could think of was the huge pile of e-mail I might receive from highly irate hams who take this as gospel!
Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je@arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142 ARRL - The Reason Amateur Radio Is! Members - The Reason ARRL Is! --------------------------- Wasshington, DC, April 1, 2008:
In a bold move the Federal Communications Commission has decided to deregulate the Amateur Radio Service. This comes at a time when budget cuts within the Commission are forcing its Enforcement Bureau to shut down by 1 January 2009.
A spokesperson for the Commission stated that since Amateur Radio operators are supposed to be self-policing that this new move "should not pose a problem". And that it would also "solve the whole issue of restructuring".
This news has come as quite a shock to many in the Amateur Radio community, striking up many heated debates. "Basically we're being told that we're on our own as of 1 January, 2008", said a high-level League staff member.
In the interim between 2008 and 2010 Amateur Radio operators are expected to act just as they do now. "Nothing's changed yet, and all the rules and regulations are still in effect," said a spokesperson for the Commission.
All of this is set to change however, starting in 2008. On 1 January 2010 Amateur Radio in the United States will cease to exist as an official radio service. At that time it will be up to the operators to make up their own rules and regulations and to enforce them.
To clarify one other issue, "call signs that have not already been issued will all be available on the 'honor system'," said another Commission spokesperson. The band-plans and power limitations are expected to stay the same.
Look for more information on this late-breaking news story as it becomes available.